





' 






















g li o u r 








THE DRUIDS; 

II 1 

OR, 


PICTURES OF BRITAIN 


AT THE 



WRITTEN FOR THE AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION. 

» 


PHILADELPHIA! 

AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, 

No. 146 Chestnut Street. 

New York, No. 147 Nassau Street . Boston, No. 9 CornhiU. 

Louisville, No. 103 Fourth Street. 









Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1850, by the 

AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, 

in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of 

Pennsylvania. 


4®* No books are published by the American Sunday-school Union 
without the sanction of the Committee of Publication, consisting of 
fourteen members, from the following denominations of Christians, vi*. 
Baptist, Methodist, Congregationalism Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Re¬ 
formed Dutch. Not more than three of the members can be of the 
same denomination, and no book can be published to which any mem¬ 
ber of the Committee shall object. 







PREFACE. 


The materials of the following story were col¬ 
lected during a course of general reading, and were 
originally arranged in order to systematise and re¬ 
tain the facts. The thought afterwards occurred 
that they might be woven together, so as to form 
an entertaining and improving volume for the youth 
who have passed the age of childhood. 

This attempt has occupied the little leisure which 
could be found amid the arduous labours of the 
Pastoral office, and has been the author’s pastime 
when his mind needed recreation. 

The book contains a description of the manners, 
the government and the religion of the Britons, near 
the time of our Saviour, which is given in the his¬ 
tory of a boy from infancy onward. The customs, 
rites and external condition of the people have 
been ascertained from the best authorities, and it 
is believed that the narrative may be relied upon. 

3 


4 


PREFACE. 


The Commentaries of Caesar, and the works of 
Tacitus, furnish much information, although these 
accounts must he received as the representation of 
conquerors. The history of Great Britain by Rob¬ 
ert Henry, D. D., is a very valuable collection of 
what is known of our ancestors, and the Pictorial 
History of England, recently re-published in this 
country, contains, in addition to the text, which sur¬ 
passes in accuracy and extent any other account of 
British manners, illustrations which enable the 
reader to draw his own conclusions from the medals, 
coins, implements and other remains that have 
been discovered. 

The fictitious part of the book consists merely 
in the name of the boy, and the chain of incidents 
which sustains the descriptions. This was essential, 
as the biography of no one has been handed down 
from that age, and the use of any except an imagi¬ 
nary name would convey a false impression. 

The object of the narrative is threefold. It is 
intended to convey a true impression of our ances¬ 
try* at the commencement of the Christian era; 
to illustrate the condition of the Hebrews during 


* Note 1. 





PREFACE. 


5 


the times of the Old Testament history, which was 
in many respects strikingly analogous to that of 
the ancient Britons; and, lastly, to portray the bless¬ 
ings which we have obtained through the gospel. 

The reader will find that the still higher end of 
his own personal salvation has not been overlooked. 
That the Holy Spirit may accomplish this blessed 
result, is the prayer of 

THE AUTHOB. 


1* 



































































CONTENTS 


PAGE 


Chap. I. —The Country—The Town—The Banquet. 9 
II. —The Home—The School. 29 

III. —The Human Sacrifice— A Battle. 55 

IV. — A Funeral—The Temple— A Sacred Fes¬ 

tival. 81 


V.—Spread of Christianity 


105 







ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

Group of Druids and Arch Druids— Frontispiece. 

Druid in Sitting Posture. 11 

The Oak of the Forest, in the Druidical Ages. 15 

British Coracle, or Osier Boat. 35 

Initial Letter—Druidical Circle and Oak. 54 

Head of Julius Caesar. 55 

War Chariot . Cl 

Money Rings and Coins... 71 

Initial Letter—Druidical Sacrifice. 81 

Arch Druid, in iiis full judicial Costume and 

WEARING THE BREAST-PLATE OF JUDGMENT, PRO¬ 
NOUNCING Sentence. 93 

A Cromlech, or Altar. 99 


Ruins of Stonehenge 


106 














THE DRUIDS. 


CHAPTER I. 

A. D. XXX. 

The Country—The Town—The Banquet . 

HE river Conway rises 
in north Wales, and 
flows among the moun¬ 
tains into the Irish sea. 
Eighteen centuries ago 
banks were covered 
with trees which con¬ 
cealed the stream espe¬ 
cially near its source, 
except as its presence 
was revealed by the murmur of the waters, 
among the rocks and rapids. The climate of 
France and Germany was then much colder 

9 























10 THE DRUIDS ; OR, PICTURES OF 

than at present, but that of Britain has re¬ 
mained unchanged, and was anciently distin¬ 
guished for the constant moisture which im¬ 
parts a peculiar richness to the verdure. 

The rays of the morning sun were strug¬ 
gling with the fog, as two horsemen entered, 
from a bye path, a road upon the western 
margin of the river. They were mounted 
upon ponies, whose rapid pace showed that 
they had but just commenced their journey, 
and were accustomed to thread their way 
through the mountain-passes, for the roads re¬ 
sembled those in the newest settlements of 
our own country. No cultivated fields ap¬ 
peared, but cattle were grazing in the forest, 
and upon the open meadows, through which 
the stream flowed. These herds were attended 
by men of large stature, and of dark com¬ 
plexion. Their long hair flowed in ringlets 
over their backs; and their upper lips were 
concealed by tangled locks, which gave an un¬ 
natural fierceness to their countenances. They 
were dressed in shirts of coarse material with 
large sleeves, in breeches of woollen stuff, and 
in a cloak of the same fabric fastened upon 
their shoulders at the throat. They were 
generally barefoot, but some wore shoes of un¬ 
tanned hides. Noble dogs accompanied these 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 11 


herdsmen to assist in controlling the cattle, 
and women were engaged in the same employ¬ 
ment. 



The rude wigwams of the natives, surrounded 
by a wall of stones, appeared within the forest, 























12 THE druids; or, pictures of 


and in some instances a small patch of land 
was cultivated. 

One of the travellers resembled the inhabi¬ 
tants in dress and appearance, except that his 
garments were of finer texture, and were che¬ 
quered as the plaids of the Highlanders. He 
evidently regarded his companion with great 
respect, and never approached to the slightest 
familiarity. The other rider was still young, 
and, although belonging to the race, was clothed 
in garments of a strange fashion. The hair of 
his head was cropped, and his beard fell in 
waving masses upon his chest, while a loose 
gown, striped with many colors, covered his per¬ 
son. A chain of gold hung around his neck, 
and sustained a pendant which was concealed 
in the folds over his bosom. He carried in his 
right hand a short staff, as a badge of office, 
for he was a Priest, who was journeying to at¬ 
tend the ceremonies upon the birth of the 
first-born in his brother’s family. 

The horsemen proceeded rapidly, only stop¬ 
ping once or twice to exchange their tired 
beasts for fresh animals. They had often to 
make a wide circuit, in order to avoid a preci¬ 
pice or a ravine, so that the sun had passed 
the meridian when they began to descend into 
a somewhat more open country. They had 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 13 

passed through several different tribes, who 
were independent of each other, although speak¬ 
ing the same language, and all of whom ob¬ 
served the same religious worship, while they 
often associated for the purpose of defence or 
conquest. 

The boundaries of the pasture grounds were 
large upright stones ; and any encroachment 
upon the territory of another was deemed a 
just cause for strife. It is mentioned in the 
Book of Genesis, that Jacob took a stone and 
set it up for a pillar. “ And Laban said unto 
Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pil¬ 
lar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee. 
This heap be witness, and this pillar be wit¬ 
ness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, 
and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and 
this pillar unto me, for harm. The God of 
Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of 
their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob 
sware by the fear of his father Isaac.”* 

Many of these stones yet remain in different 
parts of England, and indicate the day, when 
the inhabitants lived chiefly by pasturage and 
hunting. 

As the travellers hastened forward they 


* Genesis xxxi. 51, 52, 53. 
2 



14 THE DRUIDS ; OR, PICTURES OF 

came in sight of a castle upon the brow of a 
distant hill. The fortress consisted of a double 
wall, built of rough rocks, and was impregna¬ 
ble with the weapons and military engines then 
in use, as the battering ram could not be em¬ 
ployed upon the steep ascent, which was pro¬ 
tected by overhanging precipices, whence the 
besieged could overwhelm the invaders. 

The road improved as they proceeded, until 
they were met by a carriage, which the chief¬ 
tain had sent for his brother. A pair of 
beautiful horses were fastened by a yoke that 
arched above the neck of each, to the pole of 
the chariot which was open behind.* It was 
calculated for two besides the charioteer. The 
sides were formed of light basket work, in 
manufacturing which the British excelled, and 
the two small wheels were solid. This carriage 
was used by the nobles in travelling, and un¬ 
doubtedly resembled that in which Joseph 
went up to Goshen to meet his father, that in 
which Ahab rode swiftly to Jezreel to avoid the 
storm, which w r as sent in answer to the prayer 
of Elijah, and that in which the Treasurer of 
queen Candace was returning from Jerusalem, 
when overtaken by the evangelist Philip. 


* Note 2. 






THE OAK OF THE FOREST IN THE DRUIDICAL 

AGES.— p. 15. 


















BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 15 

The priest entered the chariot, and was 
driven rapidly towards his destination, while 
his horse, though freed from a rider, followed 
with great docility. 

The flocks and herds were now beginning to 
seek their nightly shelter, and hunters laden 
with their prey, were returning home from the 
forests. No indications of a town had ap¬ 
peared, when the charioteer suddenly turned 
his horses into the forest, and guiding them 
skilfully upon a pathway that ran among the 
trees for nearly a mile, stopped before a rude 
gateway, which was supported by wooden tow¬ 
ers, and a barricade of logs covered with earth 
and stones. This rude wall extended as far as 
the eye could detect, and was surrounded by a 
ditch filled with water from the swamp through 
which the circuitous causeway had been con¬ 
structed to this island in the morass. Many 
acres were enclosed, and thus ample space was 
afforded for protecting the herds and cattle of 
the inhabitants. This town resembled the 
fenced cities which the Israelites found in Ca¬ 
naan and in Gilead, where the children of Gad 
and the children of Reuben left their little 
ones and their wives, their flocks and their cat¬ 
tle, while they went over Jordan with their 
brethren, armed before the Lord for battle. 


16 


THE DRUIDS ; OR, PICTURES OF 


The loud barking of dogs announced the 
approach of the travellers, but this inhospi¬ 
table salute was changed to a clamorous wel¬ 
come, as they drove over the rude bridge, 
which covered the ditch, and which could easily 
be removed in the time of danger. Clumps of 
trees were interspersed through the area within, 
and beneath these the white cottages of the na¬ 
tives were erected. The chariot drove through 
companies of children playing merrily togeth¬ 
er, and groups of women weaving baskets, while 
the men were listlessly reclining upon the 
ground. The inhabitants respectfully saluted 
the priest as he rode forward. 

At length the party stopped before another 
wall higher than the first, and also protected 
by a ditch and turrets. This constituted the 
citadel. The reader of the Bible will recollect 
what is said of Thebez, a city against which 
Abimelech encamped. “ But there was a 
strong tower within the city, and thither fled 
all the men and women, and all they of the 
city.”* 

Here the priest was welcomed by the chief¬ 
tain with a warm embrace. They kissed one 
another after the manner of Jacob and Laban, 



BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 17 

and of Joseph and his brethren. So Aaron met 
Moses in the mount of God, and kissed him.* 
So David and Jonathan saluted each other, 
when they met in the field after the lad had 
departed.f So also, nearer the time of our 
story, the elders of the church at Ephesus, 
who went down to Miletus to bid Paul fare¬ 
well, fell on the Apostle’s neck and kissed him. J 
The chieftain was in the prime of early man¬ 
hood, of swarthy complexion, and lofty stature. 
His dress resembled that which has been de¬ 
scribed, although of richer materials. His 
beard, unlike his brother’s, was shaven, except 
upon the upper lip, and his hair would have 
rivalled that of Absalom, in length and beauty. 
A bracelet of silver took the place of the iron 
ornament which his attendants wore, and a 
golden ring encircled the middle finger of the 
right hand. But the most distinguishing deco¬ 
ration, was a golden chain, composed of flexi¬ 
ble strands, twisted so as to form a small rope, 
which encircled his neck and waist like a mili¬ 
tary sash. After the conquest of the Midian- 
ites, the chief officers of the Hebrew army 
brought to Moses as an oblation, the jewels of 
gold, chains, § and bracelets, and rings, which 


* Ex. iv. 27. f Sam. xx. 41. J Acts xx. 37. \ Note 3. 

2 * 



18 THE druids; or, pictures of 

they had taken from their enemies, showing 
that even in that ancient period these orna¬ 
ments were common. 

The chieftain held a long spear with a cop¬ 
per head, and an armour-bearer followed with 
his bow, and arrows, and shield. A hound 
crouched at his feet, and a few attendants, 
partly armed, stood behind. He resembled, 
in dress and appearance, the warriors who are 
spoken of in the old Testament, and might 
have represented Saul, the first king of Israel, 
in his days of regal prosperity. 

The brothers walked together, inquiring 
concerning each other’s affairs, until they 
reached a collection of low white-washed cot¬ 
tages, which formed the dwelling of the prince. 
These houses* were constructed of upright 
posts, surmounted by a conical roof, with an 
aperture at the top, which answered for chim¬ 
ney and window. They entered the interior 
of one which formed a single apartment, fur¬ 
nished with stools of rude workmanship, while 
the walls were hung with broad antlers, the 
tusks of the wild boar, and other trophies of 
the chase, on which were suspended bows, 
javelins, copper swords, and stone maces. 


* Note 4. 




BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 19 


A young female of fair complexion was 
seated at the farther side of the room upon a 
couch of furs, holding the new born babe in her 
arms. Women were engaged around in various 
household duties: some spinning coarse wool, 
some preparing garments, and others appa¬ 
rently just returned from their labours in the 
field. The priest saluted the mother, and con¬ 
gratulated her upon the birth of her first born, 
expressing the hope that he might extend the 
fame of his fathers. The hour for the evening 
meal having arrived, the maidens prepared the 
repast. They spread a carpet of skins in front 
of the cottage around small stools, upon which 
bread and flesh were placed. Here the broth¬ 
ers reclined, and were waited upon by atten¬ 
dants, who brought them milk in wooden bowls, 
and mead in cups of horn. • As the last rays 
of the sun departed, the company prostrated 
themselves; while the priest offered a short 
invocation, and then returned to supper, or 
rather dinner, for they had but two meals, one 
in the morning and another wdien the labours 
of the day w r ere ended. 

The conversation at the table related to the 
condition of the priesthood, w'ho had their head¬ 
quarters upon what is now called the isle of 
Anglesey. The Druid, (for this was the title 


20 THE druids; or, pictures of 

of a priest among the Britons,) inquired con¬ 
cerning the welfare of his kindred, and the 
civil affairs of the nation. The chieftain re¬ 
plied, that rumours had reached them from 
time to time, that their ancient enemies, the 
Romans, were intending again to attack the 
country, whence they had been driven a cen¬ 
tury before ; but that no preparations had yet 
been made in collecting vessels or soldiers on 
the coast of Gaul, so that the report was pro¬ 
bably without foundation. 

When the repast was finished, the brothers 
proceeded to the cottage of their aged mother, 
whom they treated with great deference, for 
then the hoary head was a crown of honour. 
Disrespect to the old, and especially to a pa¬ 
rent, was considered the blackest impiety, and 
was punished most severely. They obeyed the 
fifth commandment, although they never had 
received it directly from heaven, and thus re¬ 
buked many who possess the written statute. 

Upon departing, the sons bowed to receive 
their mother’s blessing, and she enjoined them 
to neglect nothing in the festivities which were 
celebrated upon the birth of her grandchild. 

The stars shone brightly as they stepped 
from the dwelling, and the priest, having in¬ 
quired particularly concerning the hour in 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 21 

which the babe was born, retired to the dwell¬ 
ing assigned for his residence. He attentively 
surveyed the constellations, and then drew 
mysterious figures upon the floor of the cot¬ 
tage, and entered upon his calculations. These 
were intended to discover the future condition 
of the child, and were also practised, in Baby¬ 
lon and throughout Chaldea, to ascertain coming 
events. Such were the soothsayers and astrolo¬ 
gers who were confounded in attempting to inter¬ 
pret the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar, and to read 
the hand writing'upon the wall of Belteshazzar’s 
palace. God condemned these magical arts, 
saying of Babylon, “ Let now the astrologers, 
the star-gazers, the monthly prognosticators, 
stand up, and save thee from these things that 
shall come upon thee. Behold they shall be as 
stubble, the fire shall burn them, they shall not 
deliver themselves from the power of the flame.” 

Midnight passed before the Druid finished 
his task, and then tracing a fevr mystical words 
upon a circular plate of silver, about an inch 
in diameter, he extinguished the rude torch by 
which he had studied, and wrapping his mantle 
around him, slept on a couch of skins. 

The rosy tints of the morning were adorn¬ 
ing the east, "when the priest arose, and went 
forth to offer idolatrous worship to the sun 


22 THE DRUIDS ; OR, PICTURES OF 

which God created. The scene which met his 
eye was of singular beauty. In the fore¬ 
ground the cottages of the natives glistened 
beneath the aged trees, and a little brook went 
dancing about, hither and thither, until it found 
an outlet beneath the barricade on the side 
opposite to the place of its entrance. Lofty 
hills furnished the back ground, whose sum¬ 
mits were wreathed in a drapery of mist that 
changed its forms most fantastically. 

The chief shortly joined his brother, and 
inquired anxiously concerning the result of the 
astrological investigations. He was answered 
favourably but ambiguously, for it was a part 
of the system to give replies, which admitted 
of different meanings, since “with flattering 
lips and with a double heart did they speak.” 

After breakfasting, the brothers walked 
without the citadel to observe the prepara¬ 
tions for the banquet. The inhabitants were 
busily employed in dressing the animals which 
were to be cooked, in filling large vessels with 
mead, and in collecting the furniture which 
was necessary for the festival occasion. After 
completing their arrangements within, they 
mounted a chariot, and, leaving the tow T n, 
took a road crossing the one on w r hich the 
priest had travelled, and drove to a natural 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 23 

amphitheatre, so cleared of wood as to af¬ 
ford an open arena. This was the place of 
meeting for public assemblies, and a large 
mound at one side furnished a stand for the 
orators, before which were the seats of the 
noblemen; while an altar of stones was placed 
at a little distance, and beside the altar a sin¬ 
gle rock, some four feet in height, with a cleft 
in the top. 

Rude benches composed the tables, and 
seats w r ere prepared for the chief men, although 
the multitude were expected to provide their 
own cushions, by spreading their cloaks upon 
the green sward. 

Gilgal, where Saul was accustomed to cele¬ 
brate his victories by sacred festivals, and 
where he often offered sacrifices, probably re¬ 
sembled this place in its natural adaptations, 
and in such a retreat among the hills of Pales¬ 
tine, our Saviour may have fed the multitudes. 

Banquets of this character were very com¬ 
mon among the Hebrews before they settled in 
Canaan, and even afterwards the feast of tab¬ 
ernacles was celebrated in the open air in 
booths. Samson made a feast at his w’edding. 
Isaac made a feast for Abimelech and Ahuz- 
zath and Phichol, princes of the nation among 


24 THE druids; or, pictures of 

■whom he sojourned ;* and it is recordedf that 
Abraham made a great feast the same day that 
Isaac was weaned. 

The guests began to arrive at noon-day, and 
the principal men of the tribe assembled near 
their chief to receive the strangers. Those 
who were from a distance generally rode the 
small but spirited native horses, while the 
females travelled in large wagons. The mul¬ 
titude in the neighbourhood, however, came 
upon foot. 

They were all dressed in holiday attire, and 
their naked arms and uncovered breasts were 
tattooed in grotesque figures. Some of the 
companies approached singing ballads, and pre¬ 
senting a picturesque appearance as they wound 
through the forest with their long gaudy cloaks. 
Each party upon their arrival were assigned 
their position by a herald, whose office was 
no sinecure, since the etiquette of rank and 
place was as much regarded by the Britons as 
by those whom our Saviour rebuked for seeking 
the uppermost seats at the feasts. 

When the multitude had collected, a beauti¬ 
ful bull, crowned with garlands, was led to the 
altar, and the priest taking water from a spring 


* Gen. xxvi. 26, 30. 


f Gen. xxi. 8. 



BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 25 

which bubbled near by, poured it upon the 
head of the animal. He then ‘dedicated the 
offering to the imaginary gods of his nation, 
in behalf of his brother, and prayed that the 
new-born child might be wise in counsel, va¬ 
liant in battle, and successful in his schemes 
of personal aggrandizement. Raising the sac¬ 
rificial knife in his right hand, he plunged it 
into the neck of the beast, which was then 
slaughtered by the attendants. A third of the 
sacrifice was burned upon the altar, a third 
was cooked for the priests, and the other third 
for the chieftain and his associates. 

The distribution of the offering was ordained 
by God among the Hebrews, but the Jewish sac¬ 
rifice was the type of a higher and holier. This 
resembled those which were offered upon the 
altar of Baal, which Gideon demolished ; and 
to which reference is made, when it is said, 
“ They provoked him to jealousy with strange 
gods, with abomination provoked they him to 
anger. Thev sacrificed unto devils not to 
God.” * 

The Druid now took the child in his arms, 
and throwing incense upon the burning coals 
repeated an incantation, and placed the silver 
plate, which he had prepared on the previous 

* Deut. xxxii. 16,17. 

3 



26 THE DRUIDS ; OR, PICTURES OF 

night, around the neck of the little one, as an 
amulet. 

The ceremonies were concluded by the feast. 
The multitude were seated, and baskets, filled 
with venison, beef, and the flesh of the wild 
boar, were distributed. The chief, according to 
the national custom, placed a morsel of meat 
upon the point of his sword, and put it into the 
mouth of the infant. 

They then fell upon the provisions with the 
voracity of starving people, and an incredible 
amount was devoured. The comparative fru¬ 
gality of the daily supply, which was needed 
for the table of king Solomon, would have been 
readily appreciated by those who had witnessed 
the appetite of these hardy Britons.* 

When they were satisfied with eating and 
drinking, they called loudly for the minstrels. 
The chief bard of the tribe came at the sum¬ 
mons, carrying a harp, and surrounded by 
several of the same profession, who sometimes 
accompanied him with their musical instru¬ 
ments, and their voices. The minstrel was a 
young man, and dressed somewhat in the style 
of a Druid, for he belonged to the second order 
of the priesthood. The singing and the music 
resembled that of the Hebrews in the time of 


* 1 Kings iv. 22, 23. 



BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 27 

David, and was employed in religious service 
as well as for festal purposes. 

The bard, after a short prelude upon his 
harp, which he struck with a plectrum made 
of bone, began to chant in low, measured tones, 
lie described the land when it was the home of 
wild beasts, and painted the voyage of their 
ancestors over the great ocean. He told their 
adventures, their hardships, and their numer¬ 
ous contests with the savage animals who pos¬ 
sessed the country. He pictured their final 
settlement and their happy condition, when a 
strange people, carrying swords of an unknown 
metal and wearing brazen caps, arrived in great 
war-boats to rob them of their possessions. The 
eye of the poet gleamed brightly, and his tones 
deepened, as he sang the hymn which recounted 
the overthrow of these enemies, and the bards 
joined their brother in the song until the wood¬ 
land shook wdth the echoes, as the voices of 
the whole assembly united in the chorus. Then 
again, the bard chanted alone, and murmured 
the fame of another expedition, which was said 
to be already projected by their ancient enemy. 
The attention of the multitude was aroused by 
this intimation, when he alluded to the birth 
of the young chief, and foretold the future 
prowess of the infant in conquering the inva- 


28 THE DRUIDS ; OR, PICTURES OF 

ders, should they dare to enter the land of his 
inheritance. 

Other bards followed, sometimes chanting 
together, and sometimes responding to each 
other. Thus the Psalms were sung by the 
Levites, in the temple at Jerusalem. 

A band of young men then arose, and 
planting their swords and spears upright in an 
open spot of ground, danced with great skill 
and agility among the weapons, accompanied 
by the music. Other games followed, until 
evening drew a curtain over the heavens, when 
the multitude retired to the town, where they 
found shelter, either within the cottages, or be¬ 
neath the spreading branches of the ancient 
forest. 












BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 29 


CHAPTER II. 


A. D. XXX. 

The Home—The School. 

The feast was continued for several days, 
and during this time the Druid was occupied 
in hearing and deciding the various causes 
which were brought before him for trial, since 
the priests among the Britons, as among the 
Jews, held the office of civil judge. 

The festival was at length concluded, and the 
guests returned to their homes; while the 
town, which had presented a constant scene of 
revelry, was restored to comparative quiet. 

The babe, whose birth was noticed in the 
preceding chapter, spent the winter months 
within the cottage of his mother. A loose, 
woollen mantle was wrapped about the infant, 
when he was taken from the smoky room into 
the open air. His bed was a closely woven 
basket filled with moss, and covered with a 
beaver skin. It resembled somewhat the ark 
of bulrushes, in which the mother of Moses' 

3 * 


30 THE DRUIDS ; OR, PICTURES OF 

laid her babe when she placed him among the 
flags by the river Nile, where the daughter of 
Pharaoh found the little boy. The name of 
the British infant was Oscar. 

When spring came, and the foliage covered 
the branches, the child would lie for hours be¬ 
neath a great tree in front of the cottage, and 
watch the chequered light and shade dancing 
with the motion of the leaves. The bard used 
often to carry the little fellow to a green bank, 
and amuse him by singing, while a group of 
children would gather to listen, and to learn 
the poems which contained the history of their 
ancestors. They possessed no printed books, 
and little knowledge of writing, but the events 
of the past were preserved in their songs, as 
the account of the Hebrew nation was record¬ 
ed in the cv. and cvi. Psalms of the sacred 
Scriptures. These Psalms were undoubtedly 
intended to diffuse among the tribes of Israel 
a knowledge of the divine dealings with their 
fathers, and were therefore employed both in 
public and private worship. 

When Oscar grew older, he found enough to 
occupy his time and attention, although he did 
not possess the toys which are now so common. 
He collected the loose stones and the twigs 
which had fallen upon the ground, and built 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 31 


little cottages and towns, in imitation of those 
with wdiich he was familiar. The wild flowers 
and the bright sky were objects of constant 
wonder, and he thought that the trees had a 
mind and that the clouds were the chariots of 
the angels. He trembled at a flash of light¬ 
ning and a thunder peal, for he supposed that 
the gods whom he worshipped and of whom he 
heard fearful tales, were angry. 

Though without any knowledge of the Bible, 
he received some instruction as to what was 
proper and virtuous. He was early taught to 
obey his parents, and to love truth, and his 
reverence for the aged would have shamed 
many children who live in a Christian land, 
and enjoy Christian privileges. 

As Oscar grew older, he delighted to visit 
the cottage of his grandmother. He always 
entered with a low obeisance, and cheerfully 
attended to her requests. She loved the child 
as Naomi loved her grandson, and amused and 
instructed him by stories of his ancestry. She 
often told him that he must be a brave warrior, 
for she had not heard of the peaceful gospel 
of Jesus, and considered fighting the most ho¬ 
nourable occupation. 

Little Oscar, however, delighted most in 
hearing about the beasts in the forest: about 


32 THE druids; or, pictures of 

the wild boar with sharp tusks, which slept in 
the thicket, and fed upon acorns, and who was 
a terrible enemy when provoked; about the 
herds of the wild buffaloes, who were hunted 
on swift horses; about the wary deer, who 
could only be shot with the arrow by hiding 
in the bushes near the path over which they 
travelled to the springs of water; and about 
the beavers, who built villages in the streams. 

These animals are rarely found in Palestine, 
although the wild boar is mentioned in the 
Psalms,* and some suppose that the buffalo is 
intended by the wild bulls of Bashan.f In¬ 
stead of deer, the antelope abounded and was 
called in Scripture the roe. Esau probably 
went out in pursuit of the roe, or the wild goat, 
when requested by his father Jacob to take his 
weapons, his quiver and his bow, and to go 
into the field to procure venison. 

Oscar would return home, after listening to 
these stories, earnestly longing for the time to 
arrive when he could become a warrior, and 
with his mind so occupied by the descriptions, 
as to dream at night of hunting in the forest. 
He had a little friend, a boy of about his own 
age—with whom he had played from infancy, 
and seldom, if ever, was there any strife be- 


* P8. lxxx. 13. 


f Ps. xxii. 12. 



BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF -CHRIST. 33 


tween the two, while their acquaintance aided 
materially in their mental and spiritual culti¬ 
vation. 

Yet -while Oscar readily yielded to his inti¬ 
mate associate, he w r as not so complacent in 
his intercourse with others, but frequently in¬ 
dulged in violent outbursts of passion. His 
parents partially restrained these, but they 
were heathen, -without the Bible, and held most 
erroneous views. 

The boy, however, had a conscience, and was 
reproved by his own heart when he acted un¬ 
kindly, and God only required of him the obe¬ 
dience which he -was able to render, so that he 
was without excuse in his wickedness. He was 
taught to speak the truth, to respect age, and 
always to repay a favour ; but he was not in¬ 
structed to forgive his enemies, nor to do good 
to those who despitefully used him. He was 
also educated to disregard pain, and would 
have been ashamed to show any sign of feeling 
at a bodily injury. 

His mother made him a loose garment of 
bright plaid, which he wore at festivals, and 
which, like Joseph’s coat of many colours, ex¬ 
cited the envy of his companions. The loss 
of a pet fawn occasioned him much grief, and 


34 THE DRUIDS ; OR, PICTURES OF 

he asked many questions of the harper about 
the place where his favourite had .gone. 

The minstrel assured him that he would 
hereafter meet the animal in the land of 
spirits. This induced the little fellow to in¬ 
quire more particularly concerning the future, 
but he was only bewildered by the vague an¬ 
swers. 

The chieftain made his son a bow and a little 
quiver filled with arrows, which was fastened 
upon his shoulders by thongs of buckskin, and 
he soon became so expert in their use as to 
shoot birds for his mother’s table. 

He loved to hunt the musk-rats and other 

small animals which lived in the banks of a 

\ 

river near the town, and the maidens in his 
father’s house wove for him a boat of osier* in 
the form of a nut-shell, and stretched over it a 
hide which had been made impervious to water. 
The minstrel carved a light paddle with the 
figure of a deer, wdiich pleased Oscar greatly, 
and he spent many days in floating upon the 
water. Although now and then upsetting his 
skiff, yet, knowing how to swim, he would join 
in the laugh of his playmates at his mishap. 
He now began to ride on horseback, and to 


* Note 5. 






p. 34. 













































































































BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 37 

practise shooting at a target, while galloping 
at full speed. 

Although Oscar had never attended a school 
or opened a book, he could do many things 
which would be impossible for those to do of a 
similar age in a civilized country. While he 
was proud and passionate, he was not more so 
than many who play in the streets of American 
cities, and who enjoy advantages that he never 
possessed. An adventure will show more 
clearly the proficiency of a boy in that period, 
who was but twelve years old. 

His father was accustomed to make an an¬ 
nual journey to the south, to exchange his 
furs and hides for the commodities which were 
imported from across the channel into that re¬ 
gion.* He returned in early summer, after a 
month’s absence, and brought Oscar and his 
younger brothers several presents. Oscar re¬ 
ceived a small javelin, made of a metal which he 
had not seen before, and which was of wonderful 
strength and hardness. It was iron, and was 
unknown to the Britons, as also to the ancient 
Egyptians, for although scattered so profusely 
throughout the earth, yet it is one of the most 
difficult metals to separate from the ore. The 
Britons used a mixture of copper and tin for 


* Note 6. 




38 THE DRUIDS; OR, PICTURES OF 


their weapons, and this compound metal is sup¬ 
posed to have formed the tools which chiselled 
the pyramids, a 
has been lost. 

Oscar was delighted with his weapon, and 
made many inquiries of his father about the 
people from whom it was obtained. The chief¬ 
tain gratified his son by describing the vessels 
and armour of the strangers with their foreign 
customs, until the boy begged to he allowed to 
visit the portion of country which they fre¬ 
quented, and received a promise that he should 
at some future time accompany his parent. 
Oscar reflected upon the account, until he be¬ 
came dissatisfied with deferring his visit, and 
determined to start alone on a journey to this 
region. 

He had often been warned not to venture 
any distance from his home, as some of the 
neighbouring tribes were unwilling to acknow¬ 
ledge the authority of his father, and would 
have been glad to make him their captive. 
Although the inhabitants of Britain had the 
same religion, yet the different tribes were of¬ 
ten at enmity. Oscar, however, thought little 
of the warning, but supposed himself abun¬ 
dantly competent to escape from any danger. 
He did not start at once after forming the re- 


lthough the art of tempering it 




BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 39 

solution, but spent some weeks in secretly 
making his preparations. He at first concluded 
to travel on horseback, but fearing that there 
might be many rivers to cross, and having 
heard that the stream in the neighbourhood 
led to the ocean, he decided to float down its 
current, not imagining that it made much dif¬ 
ference how he reached the sea, or at what 
place he arrived. He was much mistaken, as 
the river, which is now called the Severn, would 
carry him to the Western coast at a great dis¬ 
tance from the harbours which w 7 ere frequented 
by the nation of whom he had received such 
wonderful descriptions. 

He however collected a bundle of skins, and 
a little store of dried venison and coarse bread, 
and w T as at length ready to start, and only 
waited for a favourable opportunity. This was 
not easily obtained, for since he was going 
in opposition to what he knew would be the 
wish of his parents, he found it difficult to 
get aw r ay without discovery. At length, his 
father, accompanied by most of the men, started 
on a distant hunting expedition, and Oscar 
felt that now the chance which he had so long 
desired was before him. 

He accordingly arose very early the next 
morning, and carrying his furs and provisions 

4 


40 THE druids; or, pictures of 


to the spot where his boat was moored, con¬ 
cealed them among the bushes. He returned 
to breakfast with the family, and mentioned 
his intention of spending the day abroad. 
When the meal was finished, he took his jave¬ 
lin with his bow and arrows, and, mounting his 
pony, rode off in a direction opposite to the 
river, but making a broad circle about the 
town, he reached the bank some distance above 
the boat, and leaving his horse to wander in 
the woods, he proceeded down the stream to 
his skiff. He then packed his skins and food 
within the little vessel, and, taking his paddle, 
started unobserved. He had been prudent 
enough to tie up his favourite hound, lest the 
creature should discover his path to others, and 
he proceeded at first very slowly, sailing from 
one side of the river to the other as if in search 
of game, to mislead any who might observe his 
motions. It was noon before he was fairly 
under wav, and felt that he had commenced 
his journey in earnest. The shores of the river 
soon became strange, and afforded much to 
amuse and interest him, but, although he had 
escaped detection, he was not wholly at ease. 

He knew that he was doing wrong, that he 
was disobeying the wishes of his parents, and 
something within made him feel troubled. That 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 41 

boy had a conscience, and, although he had 
never heard of the true God, he felt the evil 
and the guilt of sin. He began now closely to 
watch the banks on either side, for he remem¬ 
bered the warnings of his father, and was afraid 
of meeting with enemies. The thought once 
occurred that it would be better to return, and 
he might have done this without any discovery 
of his design. 

But, while he feared that he had not suffi¬ 
ciently weighed the dangers of the expedition, 
he felt a great repugnance at yielding his long 
cherished plans, and determined to proceed. 
This was another wrong step, and shows us that 
Satan is busy in all countries and in all ages. 

Oscar, in order to gratify his own wishes, be¬ 
gan with disregarding the opinions of those who 
were wiser and older; then deceived his best 
friends, and, when he became aware of his folly, 
was hindered by pride from returning ; and this 
is universally the progress of the disobedient. 

The young voyager soon found that the cur¬ 
rent of the river increased in rapidity, and he 
hardly escaped from shipwreck. He glided 
forward swiftly, and was obliged to attend 
closely to the navigation of his tiny boat. He 
heard the roar of a cascade, and was only able 
by the greatest exertion to steer his little ves- 


42 THE druids; or, pictures of 

sel to the shore and thus to save himself from 
destruction. 

He was now forced to moor the boat and to 
carry the contents around the rapids. He 
then returned for the skiff, but, although he 
could easily lift it w r ith the aid of a companion, 
it was very hard for him to move it alone, and 
much time was spent in overcoming the obsta¬ 
cles to its removal. 

It was late in the afternoon before he w r as 
once more afloat, and he soon felt the necessity 
of looking out a resting place for the night. 
He heard at times the tramp of beasts in the 
forest, and once caught a view of a party of 
men upon the bank, but escaped detection by 
paddling under the overhanging branches of a 
tree, and remaining until they were out of sight. 
Night was swiftly advancing before he found a 
shelter, when he came upon a rocky island in 
the middle of the river, and, after paddling 
around it to satisfy himself that it w T as uninha¬ 
bited, he pulled his boat into a little pool, on 
the low’er side, between two rocks which afforded 
a safe harbour. He then collected some fallen 
branches and made them into a couch near the 
spot where his boat was anchored. His mind 
had been so diverted by these occupations that 
he scarcely thought of his situation, until he 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 43 


sat down to partake of his lonely meal, wdien a 
sense of his solitude came over him and in¬ 
creased the uneasiness occasioned by the feel¬ 
ing of guilt. He knelt, as was his custom, and 
prayed to the departing sun ; for this poor boy 
had no knowledge of the true God, and, when 
the morn shed its pale light, he was cheered by 
supposing that this was a favourable omen. 

Very different were the emotions of the 
youthful Jacob, when he left his father's house 
and stopped to rest upon three stones which he 
had placed for a pillow. He was happy even 
in his loneliness, for he was acting in obedience 
to the wushes of his parents, and God appeared 
to the wanderer in the night season, while he 
dreamed of the ladder which reached into heaven, 
and was rejoiced by the divine assurance : “ Be¬ 
hold I am with thee, and will keep thee in all 
places whither thou goest.” 

Oscar had no such consolation, but he was 
so tired with the labours of the day that he 
soon fell asleep, and w r as awakened at midnight 
by a sudden change in the air, when he found 
that the moon was overshadowed by thick 
clouds, and that the wind was rising in a 
stormy quarter. The rain soon began to 
patter, and he groped his way to the boat, which 
he dragged on shore, and, turning it upside 

4 * 


44 THE druids; or, pictures of 

down, he raised it upon a pile of stones and 
then crept beneath. By this time it was rain¬ 
ing very fast, and the boy found it difficult to 
compose himself to slumber. He began to 
realize the folly of his undertaking, and to re¬ 
flect upon the anxiety of his parents. He 
thought especially of his mother who would 
lament over his departure, and heartily wished 
that he had never started. Yet he could not ab¬ 
solutely determine to return in the morning, for, 
although discontented, he dreaded to meet the 
ridicule which would be thrown on his attempt, 
and moreover he remembered that he could 
not drag the boat around the numerous rapids, 
wdiich he must now climb instead of descend. 
By thus continuing on a wrong course it be¬ 
came harder to retreat, and each step down¬ 
ward lessened the possibility of return. At 
length, w r eary and sad, he again fell asleep, and 
*did not awake until the day had far advanced. 

Oscar had not been missed from his home, 
.-as he was supposed to be somewhere in the 
neighbourhood, and, although he did not return 
at evening, yet his mother was not alarmed, as 
she imagined that he was sleeping in some of 
the cottages in the vicinity. When the morn¬ 
ing arrived without his appearance, she made 
inquiry, and was surprised to learn no tidings 


BRITAIN AT TIIE TIME OF CHRIST. 45 


of him. She sent the harper upon the search, 
who, after an unsuccessful effort to discover 
some trace of the wanderer, met a man leading 
the pony, which had been found grazing in the 
woods. It was now surmised, that the boy 
might have been thrown from his horse and 
injured, or perhaps he had fallen into the hands 
of enemies. It was yet early, and parties were 
formed to engage in searching for the lost one, 
when, fortunately, the chief returned from hunt¬ 
ing, having spent the night only a few miles 
from the town. On the appearance of the 
party, it was imagined that they had been 
joined by Oscar, but this hope was soon dis¬ 
sipated. 

When the chief was informed of his son’s 
disappearance, he immediately entered upon a 
thorough investigation. The boy had been 
observed carrying a bundle through the woods, 
and afterwards mounting his horse; his bow 
and arrows were gone, and his hound, who had 
got loose from his fastening, was also missing. 
The chief sent several companies abroad, while 
he went alone towards the river, recalling the 
anxieties which Oscar had expressed to visit 
the distant portions of the country. The fath¬ 
er now showed a tenderness of feeling, which 
would scarcely have been deemed possible in 


46 THE druids; or, pictures of 

one usually so stern and passionless. Oscar 
was his first-born, and the heir of his authori¬ 
ty, and had already exhibited much promise. 
The tears fell from the eyes of the strong man, 
as he reflected on the probability of his son’s 
death or captivity. He felt somewhat as Jacob 
did when his children brought him the blood¬ 
stained garment of Joseph. 

As the chief, thus sadly musing, proceeded 
through the forest, he noticed the impress of 
little feet upon the moist places, and followed 
their traces until he reached the stream, where 
he found the dog gazing wistfully upon the 
water and moaning piteously. This was the 
place where Oscar kept his boat, which was 
now not to be found, and the chieftain imme¬ 
diately suspected the truth. He returned to 
the town, leaving the dog, who would not be 
coaxed from the spot, but went howling to and 
fro displaying all the signs of anxiety of which 
his nature was capable. 

The chieftain learned that no discoveries had 
been made of his son, except that footprints 
had been found where he dismounted, and fol¬ 
lowed down the river by a party who had not 
yet returned. He ordered several men to ac¬ 
company him to the river with a canoe, and 
others to proceed down the shores of the 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 47 

stream. He was met by those who had fol¬ 
lowed the tracks to the landing where the dog 
remained, and, thus confirmed in his suspicions, 
he embarked, leaving directions for other boats 
to follow. The chief, knowing that the party 
on land would discover any traces, proceeded 
to the portage. Here the hound, who had ac¬ 
companied them on shore, began to scent the 
ground, and soon gave a short bark of recog¬ 
nition as he started forward. The boat was 
carried on the shoulders of the men around the 
rapids, who quickly perceived the marks which 
Oscar had made in dragging the skiff down the 
descent. These showed that the boy was alone, 
but the chieftain feared that he might be taken 
prisoner by the tribes beyond, who would re¬ 
joice in procuring so valuable a hostage. He 
accordingly sent back a messenger to hasten 
the parties both on land and water, while he 
hurried to overtake his son, if possible, before 
he reached the dangerous neighbourhood. 

Oscar slept longer than usual, and when he 
awoke it was broad daylight. The rain had 
ceased, though clouds obscured the heavens. 
After preparing breakfast he started again, 
but the experience of the previous night had 
somewhat dampened his ardour, and occasioned 
less alacrity in his movements. He proceeded 


48 THE druids; or, pictures of 

cautiously, since he knew that he was beyond 
the limits of his father’s dominions. How true 
it is that a disobedient son increases his perils 
by every step in which he advances in trans¬ 
gression ! 

At last, in a bend of the stream, the boy’s 
quick glance discerned in the distance a village 
and its inhabitants. Oscar retreated under 
the shadow of the bank to decide what was 
best to be done, and at length concluded to 
fasten leaves about his little boat and make it 
appear like a floating branch of a tree, by 
which means he hoped to pass unobserved. 
This occupied some hours, and, after finishing 
his preparations, he began again to glide down 
with the current, keeping a sharp look-out 
through an aperture in the leaves, and using 
the paddle only to keep the skiff on the side 
opposite to the village. 

Just as he reached the town, a man crossing 
the river in a canoe was attracted by the thick¬ 
et of bushes, and approached out of curiosity, 
Oscar remained perfectly still, and observed 
that the stranger was of a different tribe from 
his own, by the painted figures on his arms and 
chest. The boatman seemed satisfied with his 
scrutiny, and was turning to pursue his origi¬ 
nal course, when he loosened a branch as he 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 49 

pushed from the mass, and discovered the skiff 
which had been concealed. He exclaimed 
with surprise at the sight of the boy, but Oscar 
was not yet caught, for seizing a twig, tvhich 
drooped from a tree overhanging the water, he 
stopped his owm course, and at the same in¬ 
stant snatched the paddle from the astonished 
stranger, -who was borne helplessly down the 
swift current! The boy perceiving further 
concealment idle threw away the covering of 
leaves, and began to paddle up the stream. 
This was the work of a moment, and mean¬ 
while the man in the canoe had shouted the 
alarm, which brought numbers to the shore. 
The boats, fortunately for Oscar, were below 
the village, and some delay was occasioned by 
the confusion, so that he increased the distance 
between himself and his pursuers before they 
were fairly started upon the river. He kept 
out of the current and rowed manfully up the 
stream, but the little fellow had a small chance 
of escaping; yet his education assisted him 
greatly in this emergency, for he had learned 
to use his powers, and was much better quali¬ 
fied for such a trial than those w r ho have been 
instructed by the best teachers in the schools 
of the present day. His only hope consisted 
in regaining the bend in the river in time to 


50 THE DRUIDS ; OR, PICTURES OF 

leave the boat and conceal himself in the 
forest, before those behind could observe his 
motions. His courage never failed, and he 
was beginning to indulge the prospect of es¬ 
cape, when an eddy struck the little bark, 
while Oscar was exerting all his strength, and 
caused him to drop his paddle. The pursuers 
shouted when they saw the mishap, but the 
boy seized the paddle which he had snatched 
from the stranger, and with a cry of defiance 
continued his flight. At length he gained the 
bend and swept into still water, where even his 
weak arm could outstrip those who were strug¬ 
gling up the current. He selected a spot for 
landing, and turned towards the shore, when 
he espied another party descending, and, al¬ 
though his heart died within him, he instinct¬ 
ively sought the bank, and was just leaping 
ashore when the familiar war-shout of his own 
tribe arrested his footsteps, and he recognized 
the voice of his father. The foes had now 
reached the bend, and were again in sight. 
They soon approached very close, when Oscar 
suddenly darted behind their course, and pad- 
died across the river, and, before they could 
follow him, he reached a shoal where the larger 
boats could not float. 

His. countrymen shouted at the success- 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 51 

ful manoeuvre, and the eje of the chieftain 
gleamed, for this delay enabled his party to 
reach the scene, when the father instantly 
sprang into the boat of the enemy and threw 
the steersman into the river. 

He was seconded by his armed followers, 
who easily overpowered their opponents, since 
they in their haste had left their weapons be¬ 
hind. Oscar threw his pack and javelin into 
the boat of his friends, and leaving his little 
skiff, they immediately started on their return, 
for the chieftain was far ahead of his own com¬ 
pany. The boats of the enemy were engaged 
in picking up their discomfited companions, 
and did not pursue the band of warriors, who, 
after a few miles, met their allies descending. 

The chieftain administered a just rebuke to 
Oscar for his temerity and disobedience, after 
learning his designs; but this was somewhat 
softened by the coolness and courage which 
the boy had displayed. 

If Oscar, when he discovered his father com¬ 
ing to his rescue, had stopped to consider, 
whether it was best to accept of his succour ; or 
had resolved to do nothing, but leave all to the 
prowess of his father ; or had tried to run the 
gauntlet of the hostile strangers, and pursue 
his journey, who does not perceive that he 

5 


52 THE DRUIDS ; OR, PICTURES OF 

would have been guilty of extreme folly and 
shown the basest ingratitude ? 

Yet very many both old and young treat 
their Heavenly Father in precisely this man¬ 
ner, and still attempt to justify their conduct. 
They have disobeyed his commands, and for¬ 
saken Him to seek their own selfish gratification. 
The further they continue in sin the worse is 
their condition, and the more gloomy the pros¬ 
pect of repentance. They are surrounded by 
an enemy who is watching for their souls, and 
they cannot, without aid, regain the position 
which they have lost. But their Heavenly 
Father does not forsake them in their distress 
and peril. He offers them forgiveness and 
restoration upon their repentance, yet they 
hesitate and wait, and thus often perish in their 
iniquity. 

The return of Oscar with his father occa¬ 
sioned great joy. The lesson was not lost up¬ 
on the boy, for he never again proposed to 
leave the neighbourhood without the consent 
of his parents. The chief saw that it was time 
to employ his son, and accordingly sent him to 
assist a faithful and skilful herdsman. He was 
thus compelled, like the youthful David, to spend 
much time abroad. News was brought that a 
vast army had landed upon the southern coast, 


\ 

BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 53 

and was advancing rapidly in the conquest and 
settlement of the country. 

This information, however, excited but little 
alarm among those who were at a distance from 
the conflict, and Oscar continued quietly to 
pursue his accustomed duties for two or three 
years, while constantly gaining in size and 
strength. 

One evening, after he had driven the cattle 
within the enclosure, he remembered that his 
bow had been left in the w T oods, and fearing 
that it might be injured by the damp night- 
air, he returned with his dog to procure it. 
He was coming home again, when a wild boar 
crossed the path and was pursued by the dog. 
The beast instantly turned, and wounded the 
dog, when Oscar coming to the rescue was as¬ 
sailed, and a sharp conflict ensued, but at 
length, the brave youth plunged a knife into 
the throat of the enraged animal, and suc¬ 
ceeded in despatching him. He severed the 
head from the body, and bore it in triumph to 
his father. These daring feats were of fre¬ 
quent occurrence, and showed so much of the 
spirit of the young man, that the chieftain at 
length yielded to his importunity, and con¬ 
sented to his formal admission among the 
■warriors of the tribe. 


54 the druids; or, pictures of 

He was kept in solitude for several days 
while lie fasted, and was subject to the painful 
operation of tattooing, by which the chest, 
arms and face, were marked with figures de¬ 
scriptive of his lineage and nation. This w*as 
accomplished by puncturing the skin with a 
needle, and then infusing a dark liquor to stain 
the lines thus pricked upon the surface. This 
process was deemed beneficial, both in harden¬ 
ing the flesh, and in trying the patience of the 
candidate. 

After these preliminaries, the inauguration 
was celebrated by a feast, at which his uncle, 
the Druid, was present. 

The youth at this time received a new name,. 
being called from his late exploit “ the wild 
boar,” as he had before been styled, from his 
voyage down the stream, “ a running brook.” 

He distinguished himself in wrestling, and 
shooting at the games. His form was noble, 
and he possessed that courageous calmness 
which enables a man to use his faculties in 
midst of danger, and which is essential to a 
good leader. He longed to exercise his ta¬ 
lents, and to exhibit his valour, nor was the 
opportunity long denied. 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 55 


CHAPTER HI. 


A. D. LI, LII. 


The human sacrifice—A battle. 



Britain first 
became known 
to the Romans 
by the expedi¬ 
tion of Julius 
Ceesar into that 
island, a hun¬ 
dred years be¬ 
fore the period 
to which this 
story relates.— 
He attempted the conquest of the country, 
partly because the inhabitants assisted the 
Gauls in their contests with the Romans, part¬ 
ly because Britain was the chief seat of the 
religion whose priests inflamed the people 
against his authority, and partly from that 


5 * 




56 THE DRUIDS; OR, PICTURES OF 

ambition which lias led to so many wars, and 
prompted so many cruelties. 

Caesar, after a campaign of two years, left 
the island with his army, and if not himself 
driven away (as there is ground for believing, 
although he of course does not intimate such a 
defeat), still, for nearly a century, Britain was 
undisturbed by the Romans. 

During this time, some commerce was car¬ 
ried on between the island and the continent, 
and several Emperors debated the expediency 
of subduing this distant region. In the forty- 
third year of our Lord, however, the Emperor 
Claudius began to make preparation in earnest 
for the attainment of this object, and commis¬ 
sioned Aulus Plautius, a distinguished general, 
to accomplish this design with an army of four 
legions, which amounted, including the auxil¬ 
iaries, to about fifty thousand soldiers. 

They landed upon the coast of Britain when 
Oscar was thirteen years old, and met with 
various success. The Emperor at length came 
in person, but the Britons, though often de¬ 
feated., speedily rallied, and Claudius departed, 
leaving Plautius to continue the war and ap¬ 
pointing Vespasian the second in command. 

This Vespasian was afterwards sent against 
the Jews when they rebelled. He became 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 57 

Emperor, and his son Titus continued the con¬ 
flict in Palestine, and commanded the Romans 
at the siege and capture of Jerusalem, which 
so remarkably fulfilled the prophecy of the 
Messiah in the destruction of the temple. 

Petty jealousies were lost sight of in the 
common danger, and the Britons united in the 
earnest defence of their homes and religion. 
Caractacus, or, as he was called by his country¬ 
men, Caradoc, w r as foremost among their chief¬ 
tains. Tie was a man of great prudence, in¬ 
domitable courage and true patriotism. Per¬ 
ceiving that slavery must be the fate of his 
nation if conquered by the Romans, he strove 
to arouse the people to the most persevering 
resistance. His efforts were retarded by the 
habits of his countrymen, who loved their per¬ 
sonal independence too much to submit to the 
discipline of a regular army, and, when collect¬ 
ed, often dispersed without warning or apology. 
The tribes, living at a distance from the scene 
of conflict, were disinclined to participate in 
it, and it was difficult to convince them of their 
personal interest in its issue. 

Yet, notwithstanding all these disadvantages, 
Caractacus had succeeded for seven years in 
resisting the Roman armies, when, in the year 
of our Lord fifty, Ostorius Scapula was ap- 


58 THE DRUIDS; OR, PICTURES OF 

pointed the Roman General, and adopted a 
new mode of warfare. He built a chain of 
forts around the provinces already conquered, 
and thus defended them from attack, W’hile he 
extended his dominion. Behind this wall of 
citadels, he erected towns and cities, adorned 
with temples and palaces, and also prevented 
any insurrection by disarming the natives. 

Caractacus was now obliged to retreat into 
South Wales, and afterward into North Wales, 
where the face of the country and the char¬ 
acter of the inhabitants were better adapted 
for a successful resistance. This region was 
very mountainous, covered with impenetrable 
forests and crossed by swift rivers, rendering 
it almost impassable to an invading army. 

The natives were far more warlike than 
those in the south, and were trained by hunt¬ 
ing to the use of weapons. 

Oscar dwelt in this part of the country, and 
belonged to the Ordovices, who now rallied to 
the standard of Caractacus. Four years had 
elapsed since his admission to the tribe, and 
he had become noted for his skill in hunting, 
and for his dauntless bearing. 

At the close of a beautiful afternoon in Oc¬ 
tober, a herald arrived at the town, and de¬ 
sired an interview with the chieftain. He 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 59 


brought a message from Caractacus, exhorting 
the Britons to muster their forces, and join the 
army which had been collected to resist the 
progress of the Romans. 

So soon as this summons was received, and 
their imminent peril was made apparent by 
the near approach of the enemy, the whole 
nation became aroused in the determination 
to oppose the invaders. Heralds were de¬ 
spatched in all directions to bid the people 
rally around their chieftain, and a messenger 
was sent to the Druid, who still lived in his 
distant island, to solicit his presence at the cere¬ 
monies which were usual before undertaking 
such an expedition. 

In a few days, companies of armed warriors 
began to assemble. Each clan had its own 
leader, although they all acknowledged the 
supremacy of Oscar’s father. They were ac¬ 
companied by women, and also brought provi¬ 
sions for the campaign. 

The army was divided into infantry, cavalry, 
and chariots. The infantry composed far the 
larger portion, and were clothod in trowsers of 
buckskin, with a loose cloak upon their shoul¬ 
ders, which they threw aside, when they en¬ 
gaged in battle. They carried small, round, 
copper shields with a hollow boss in the centre 


60 THE DRUIDS ; OR, PICTURES OF 

to protect their hands, a long unwieldy sword 
of bronze, and a mace, or heavy black stone 
with a wooden handle. They also were armed 
with bows and arrows tipped with flint, or with 
long spears, to the handles of which were at¬ 
tached hollow copper balls, containing bits of 
metal, the sound of which, when rattled, was in¬ 
tended to terrify the enemy. These men pos¬ 
sessed great powers of endurance, and great 
dexterity. 

The cavalry were armed like the infantry 
and mounted upon small, hardy horses. These 
animals were so well trained as to remain for 
their masters whenever they dismounted, and 
sometimes the swiftest foot soldiers would seize 
the manes of the horses and accompany the 
cavalry in their rapid evolutions. 

But the war chariots were the most notice¬ 
able in the array. They w r ere constructed like 
one described in the first chapter, except of 
stouter materials, and the wheels and sides 
were armed with sharp crooked hooks or 
scythes, which cut down every thing they 
struck. Most of them were designed for two 
warriors besides the charioteer. These either 
fought from the carriage or descended as oc¬ 
casion required. They undoubtedly resembled 
the chariots which are spoken of in connection 









- 


p. 01. 


*‘V 


WAR CHARIOT 











BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 63 

with the wars of the Israelites : “And the Lord 
was with Judah ; and he drove out the inhabi¬ 
tants of the mountain ; but could not drive out 
the inhabitants of the valley, because they had 
chariots of iron.”* 

The prophet Nahum has given a vivid de¬ 
scription of their appearance, while relating 
the destruction of Nineveh : “ The chariots shall 
rage in the streets; they shall justle one against 
another in the broad ways, they shall seem 
like torches, they shall run like the lightnings. ”f 
And again : “ The noise of a whip and the noise 
of the rattling of the wheels, and of the 
prancing horses and of the jumping chariots. 
The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword 
and the glittering spear, and there is a multi¬ 
tude of slain, and a great number of carcases, 
and there is none end of their corpses, they 
stumble upon their corpses. 

This British army must have closely re¬ 
sembled those of the Canaanites and Philistines, 
with whom the children of Israel contended 
upon first entering the land of promise, and 
also those of the Egyptians and Assyrians with 
whom the Hebrews afterwards warred in the 
time of their kings, and of whom the Psalmist 
declared : « some trust in chariots, and some in 


*Judg. i. 9. 


f Nah. ii. 4. 


X Nah. iii. 2, 3. 




64 THE DRUIDS ; OR, PICTURES OF 

horses, but we will remember the name of the 
Lord our God.” 

Little did these rude warriors imagine that 
already a gospel of peace and good-will was 
proclaimed, which was finally to put an end to 
strife the world over; yet it was in this very 
year, that Paul and Barnabas went up to Jeru¬ 
salem to consult the brethren there in respect 
to the best manner of organizing the churches 
among the Gentiles. 

Shortly after the troops had assembled, the 
Druid arrived, and nothing remained but the 
performance of the usual rites. On the ap¬ 
pointed day, the vast amphitheatre was thronged 
with the various companies, who presented a 
picturesque appearance, as they amused them¬ 
selves in various ways before the ceremony be¬ 
gan. One group was listening to an aged fe¬ 
male, whose white locks were floating in the 
breeze, and whose haggard expression made her 
resemble the woman whom Saul consulted be¬ 
fore the battle in which he was defeated and slain 
by the Philistines. She bade her hearers to 
fight valiantly, and denounced the foes as 
wolves howling in the dark and preying .on the 
timid and the defenceless, but fleeing before 
the onset of a determined enemy. So Deborah 
the prophetess judged Israel, when they were 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 65 


under the power of king Jabin, and she went 
up with Barak to battle, and defeated the ene¬ 
mies with great slaughter, and Sisera his cap¬ 
tain w r as slain by Jael, the wife of Heber the 
Kenite. Then she composed the triumphant 
Psalm in the fifth chapter of the Book of 
Judges. 

Another party had clustered about a min¬ 
strel who was singing one of the national 
hymns. Young men w T ere wrestling, shooting 
and engaging in other athletic games; while 
children were gambolling on the grassy floor, 
and their mothers were busy in preparing the 
banquet. Large numbers of priests were scat¬ 
tered through the place, who had either ac¬ 
companied the brother of the chieftain, or were 
connected with the different classes that com¬ 
posed the army. 

After the sun had passed the meridian, the 
herald ascended the mound, and summoned the 
people. They arranged themselves under his 
direction. The soldiery were in full armour, 
and they made a terrific clamour, by their loud 
shouts, as they marched to their places, shaking 
their/rattling weapons for an accompaniment. 

Two prisoners were brought in, bound, and 
placed on one side of the altar. The shadows 
had begun to lengthen, wdien the Druid ascended 


66 THE DRUIDS ; OR, PICTURES OF 

the mound, and commenced an address to the 
people. The orator was arrayed in the flowing 
rol^es of his order, and his clear, deep tones re¬ 
sounded through the vast arena, and gained the 
attention of the immense audience. The He¬ 
brew prophets thus warned and exhorted the 
people, and John the Baptist thus addressed 
the multitudes who went out from Jerusalem 
and all Judea to attend his preaching; but they 
were preachers of righteousness, while this 
was the priest of a false religion. 

The Druid began by complimenting the 
alacrity with -which the tribes had armed in de¬ 
fence of their country. He then alluded to the 
foe who had invaded their homes -without any 
provocation, and who was attempting to over¬ 
throw both their independence and their religion. 
He mentioned the causes of the enemy’s past 
success, in the effeminacy of those with whom 
they had contended, and in the treachery 
which had been induced by the love of wealth 
in the inhabitants of the southern coast. He 
enumerated the capabilities of the surrounding 
region, both in its natural advantages, and in 
the bravery of its inhabitants. He closed by 
referring to their ancestry, who defeated the 
Romans in their first endeavour to conquer 
Britain, and most eloquently and earnestly 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 67 

exhorted them to prove worthy of their history 
and devoted to their country. This address 
was crowded with metaphors, and delivered 
with much force of voice and gesture, and pro¬ 
duced an effect upon the audience which can 
scarcely be imagined by those who have only 
seen assemblies in civilized countries, where 
the emotions are habitually repressed. They 
often interrupted the speaker by shouts and 
even yells as their passions were excited ; while, 
at other times, those rude men would listen in 
breathless silence, enchained by some simple 
story, with which the orator adorned his argu¬ 
ment. 

When the applause had spent itself, the 
Druid turned the attention of the multitude 
to the captives, who stood near the altar loosed 
from their fetters. He described them as not 
having even the apology of being Romans, but 
as those who, speaking the language of the 
Britons and worshipping their gods, had crossed 
the ocean to aid in enslaving their brethren, and 
who had been detected lurking as spies in an 
adjacent forest. He assured the assembly that 
these prisoners were justly condemned to death 
for their villany ; and, at a signal from the 
speaker, two priests stepped behind the crimi¬ 
nals, who had interrupted the address by their 


68 the druids; or, pictures or 

shouts of defiance, and prostrated the captives 
by a blow. Their bodies were placed upon the 
altar amid approving shouts, and a fire was 
lighted beneath, whose ascending cloud of 
smoke was gilded by the last beams of day, un¬ 
til it seemed a burnished column reaching to 
the heavens. This was hailed as a favourable 
omen, and the sacrifice was supposed to be ac¬ 
cepted. 

This must impress the mind with a sense of 
the savage and inhuman characteristics of a 
people who could exult in such a spectacle; 
but when this impression has been distinctly 
received, the reader would do well to recall 
another scene, which occurred among a nation 
blessed above others with the light of divine 
revelation. 

Contrast the palace of the High Priest, 
thronged by the sages of Israel, who con¬ 
demned the innocent Jesus, with these un¬ 
lettered Britons. Listen, at the judgment seat 
of Pilate, to that cry which arose above the 
expostulation of the Roman, “ Crucify! Cru¬ 
cify!’’ Remember that Barabbas the robber 
was chosen before Christ the Redeemer! Pic¬ 
ture the planting of the cross with a rude shock 
between earth and heaven, and the taunts, not 
merely of the furious mob, but of the priests and 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 69 

\ 

elders: “He saved others, himself he cannot 
save.” 

Compare the two acts—the sacrifice of re¬ 
lentless enemies who had been detected in the 
garb of spies, and who were, to the last, bold in 
their hatred, with the murder of one, whose 
errand was that of mercy, and who prayed in 
his agony, “Father, forgive them;” and the 
comparison may produce a better judgment of 
the relative degree of barbarism. 

Nor is the crucifixion of the Redeemer the 
only manifestation of cruelty which could be 
profitably contrasted with this sacrifice. 

The devoted disciples of our Lord have suffered 
the most terrible torture, not from the heathen 
alone, but from those who named themselves 
with the name of Christ. Instead of denoun¬ 
cing these ignorant Pagans, guilty as they 
doubtless were, we should be grateful for the 
progress of Christian principles. 

After the sacrifice, the Druid descended to 
the octagonal stone near the altar, in whose 
cleft had been sprinkled the blood of the hu¬ 
man victims. Three of the chief men placed 
their hands together in the opening of the 
rock,* and repeated, after the priest, an oath, 


* Note 7. 
6 * 



70 THE druids; or, pictures of 

binding them to seek the expulsion of the Ro¬ 
mans until death, or the attainment of their 
object; and the vow thus taken could not be 
broken, it was supposed, without incurring the 
most fearful penalty both here and hereafter. 
The priest soon resigned his office to a subor¬ 
dinate, and all the chieftains took this solemn 
pledge at the stone of faith. The crescent 
of the new moon followed the setting sun, be¬ 
fore the public ceremonies were concluded, 
when fires were kindled, around which the 
company gathered and spent the night in feast¬ 
ing- • 

The army was to commence its march to 
join Caractacus on the third day after the 
banquet. The wagons had been previously 
packed, and the order of the troops arranged. 
So that, after an early breakfast, the soldiers 
accoutred themselves for the journey. 

xl body of light infantry was dispatched in 
front, to remove any obstacles from the road 
and to watch the movements of the enemy. 
The cavalry and chariots followed with the 
main army, and were succeeded by the bag¬ 
gage, while another body of infantry composed 
the rear guard. Several hours elapsed before 
the troops W'ere under way, and as each band 
defiled past the Druid, who stood on a little 





















































































































































































































































































































































BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 73 

eminence by the road side, he gave them a word 
of encouragement. 

The mother of Oscar did not accompany her 
husband, but remained at home to take charge 
of the household, while the chieftain was at¬ 
tended by three of his sons. Oscar, who was 
the oldest, had the command of a chosen band 
of young men. The chieftain waited after the 
departure of the army, and then committed a 
considerable treasure in golden pieces and 
rings of brass to his wife, with instructions as 
to the place of secreting the money. 

The coins which are most ancient are stamped 
with the figures of cattle, as these constitute 
the first wealth of a people. It was proba¬ 
bly in such coin as this, that Abraham paid 
Ephron for the cave of Machpelah, when he 
weighed out the amount in current money with 
the merchant. 

Coin of any kind appears to have been un¬ 
known in Britain upon the first landing of 
Caesar, for he writes that “they use either 
brass or iron rings of a certain weight, in place 
of moneyand several collections of these 
have been discovered in the island. After his 
invasion, the Britons became acquainted with 
stamped money, which was introduced by their 
commerce with the Gauls. 


74 THE DRUIDS ; OR, PICTURES OF 

The chieftain, having left a small troop to 
garrison the town, took his farewell of his 
family, and was followed by his little ones to 
the gate ; when, mounting his chariot, he bade 
the driver hasten forward. 

Although the road was heavy, the spirited 
horses dashed onward, and soon reached the 
rearguard; when, winding about the heavy 
wagons, they attained the forward rank before 
the encampment. The place selected was a 
meadow, skirted on one side by the forest, and 
on the other by a stream. The vanguard, 
under the direction of their leaders, marked 
out the ground, and erected rude booths and 
collected forage. The wagons were driven to 
the outer circle, and thus formed a barricade 
round the camp, enclosing the army with their 
horses and cattle. The women slept in the 
wagons, the soldiers on the bare ground, and 
the chieftains in their huts. Sentinels were 
appointed, the fires kindled, and the repast 
prepared, when the soldiers betook themselves 
to slumber. 

On the next morning the march was resumed. 
The Druid, who had accompanied his brother 
to this place, now started upon his return, 
promising to oversee the education of the chief- 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 75 

tain’s youngest son, who was to be trained for 
the priesthood. 

Four days were spent before approaching 
the place where Caractacus was collecting his 
forces. This prince had fortified the summit 
of a precipitous mountain, by erecting walls 
of stone, where the sides were not too steep to 
prevent all access. A deep river ran near the 
base of the hill, and the Romans were en¬ 
camped on the opposite bank. 

This large reinforcement was joyfully wel¬ 
comed by the Britons. Oscar watched eagerly 
the distant camp of the enemy, which resem¬ 
bled a city with its walls and towers, and ar¬ 
dently anticipated the coming struggle. Sev¬ 
eral days passed in inactivity*, for Caractacus 
felt that every delay added more troops to his 
army, and enabled him the better to prepare 
those who had enlisted, while the Romans were 
waiting the arrival of their general. At 
length he reached the camp, and the next 
morning the legions were summoned to arms 
by the call of the trumpet. 

Caractacus immediately arranged his troops 
in the order of battle. He placed the cavalry 
and chariots in front of the ramparts, with 
several companies of the infantry, while he re¬ 
tained the main body behind the fortification. 


76 THE druids; or, pictures of 

The Romans, upon reaching the hanks, hesi¬ 
tated for some time, but at length were indu¬ 
ced to attempt the ford, and although annoyed 
by the missiles of the enemy, succeeded in cross¬ 
ing without severe loss, under the protection 
of their military engines, which threw large 
stones into the ranks of the Britons. 

They took their position in military order, 
and their lofty helmets and broad shields 
flashed in the sunlight. Caractacus, at this 
juncture, addressed his soldiers in a most im¬ 
passioned appeal, reminding them of the inter¬ 
ests which were at stake, and beseeching them 
to save themselves from slavery, and to defend 
their religion. He was answered by deafening 
shouts, and the cither chiefs added their exhor¬ 
tations, while priests and aged women hurried 
through the ranks, exciting the soldiers to fury. 

The cavalry and chariots then dashed upon 
the Romans, and their onset spread dismay 
into the ranks of their stout-hearted enemies. 
The most courageous began to quail at the 
destruction which the armed wheels occasioned, 
and already there were signs of defeat, when 
Ostorius commanded his troops to form the 
“testudo,” by holding their shields over their 
heads, lapping upon each other, thus making 
a roof of metal beneath which they began to 


BRITON AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 77 

march forward. The Britons could make no 
impression upon this wall of iron, and even the 
chariots were forced back by the bulwark. 
The legions advanced steadily to the rampart 
of stones, wdiere the contest began in earnest, 
for the undaunted Britons threw themselves 
upon their mailed adversaries, and fought, hand 
to hand, though in unequal conflict. Many 
Romans were slain, but their discipline and 
superior armour at length prevailed, and the 
Britons began to give way, when the father of 
Oscar threw himself before the yielding host, 
and succeeded by his bravery in momentarily 
changing the current, w r hen he was prostrated. 
Oscar seized a sword from a dying Roman, 
and sprang to the chieftain’s rescue; others 
followed, and they succeeded in dragging the 
wounded man from the midst of the enemy 
and in placing him in a chariot. 

Oscar then returned to the battle, for no 
time was permitted him for the indulgence of 
filial tenderness, and he found that, during his 
absence, the disheartened soldiers had retreated 
to the brow of the hill, where the conflict was 
sustained for some time longer, when the natives 
were at length subdued, and fled from their in¬ 
vaders. Night, however, aided the vanquished 
and most of them escaped, but the Romans sue- 


78 THE DRUIDS ; OR, PICTURES OF 

ceedcd in obtaining the baggage of the army, 
and in capturing those females who had accom¬ 
panied their husbands, and among them the 
wife and daughter of Caractacus. 

This nobleman, deeming the cause of his 
country irrecoverably lost, fled to the queen 
of the Brigantines, who treacherously betrayed 
the confidence reposed in her, and delivered 
the chief in fetters to his enemies, who carried 
him with his family to Rome, to grace the 
triumphant procession by which this victory 
was commemorated. 

The father of Oscar, although severely 
wounded, was able to direct the retreat, and 
by the aid of his son kept his forces together. 
The Roman general determined to follow up 
his success, as he had done heretofore, by erect¬ 
ing a line of fortresses ; but the British had 
profited, by defeat, and changed the entire 
mode of warfare. 

Instead of engaging in open conflict, they 
resolved to assail the enemy from ambushes, 
and, by sudden assaults, to cut off his supplies, 
and thus prevent the accomplishment of his de¬ 
signs. This plan was pursued with such pru¬ 
dence, and so adapted was it to the habits of 
the natives, (since only a small part of the 
army was obliged to be in the field,) that shortly 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. T9 

no Roman soldier dared to leave the camp, and 
the invaders began to suffer from the want of 
provisions. 

Oscar distinguished himself greatly in this 
warfare. He traversed the country with a 
chosen band of followers, and molested the 
enemy at every point, while he was supported 
by the voluntary contributions of the inhabi¬ 
tants. He entered the Roman camp once alone, 
and retired without discovery, after determin¬ 
ing on a mode of attack, which was successfully 
prosecuted. His name became terrible to the 
enemy, and large rewards were offered for his 
capture. He was however unharmed, and mani¬ 
fested the valour of Jonathan the son of Saul, 
when his country w T as in a similar condition, 
and he, with his armour-bearer, attacked the gar¬ 
rison of the Philistines. 

The people, encouraged by this success, as¬ 
sailed the Romans more boldly and prevented 
the erection of forts, until the whole country 
became aroused and the enemy was again forced 
to retreat. Ostorius, the Roman general, died 
of a broken heart at his discomfiture, and the 
natives, yet more emboldened by this event, 
drove their foes back to their ancient boundary, 
so routed that they did not venture forth again 
for many years. 


7 


80 TIIE DRUIDS.; OR, PICTURES OF 

After the successful termination of the con¬ 
flict, Oscar and his father returned to the home 
which they had seldom visited during the war, 
and were received everywhere with great re¬ 
joicing. 

They learned afterwards, from a Roman sol¬ 
dier whom they took prisoner, that Caractacus, 
upon his appearance at Rome, had behaved in 
a manner worthy of his noble ancestry, and 
had shown a courage which had won the admi¬ 
ration of the emperor. Yet, although the war 
was thus concluded, the country still suffered 
from its effects. The desolate villages, the 
sorrowing widows and bereaved orphans, testi¬ 
fied man’s need of that gospel for preaching 
which Paul was then imprisoned at Philippi. 










BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 81 


CHAPTER IV. 

A. D. LIII, LIV. 

A Funeral—The Temple—A Sacred Festival. 

ever did the chief¬ 
tain fully recover 
from the shock which 
his system received 
in the battle under 
Caractacus, although 
he had been able to 
perform active duty 
with his son in the 
ensuing conflict. 

Shortly after peace was concluded, he was 
violently attacked by disease, and his symp¬ 
toms soon became alarming. The simple re¬ 
medies then in use failed to relieve him, and 
those were tried which were then considered 
more efficacious. 

A Druid dressed in white, having fasted dur- 














82 THE DRUIDS; OR, PICTURES OF 

ing the previous day and offered a libation of 
bread and mead, gathered at midnight in the 
light of the full moon certain herbs, which were 
supposed, when thus plucked, to possess great 
medicinal virtue. Yet these were of no avail, 
and the chieftain himself became assured that 
death was approaching, and was grateful that 
he had been spared to witness the defeat of his 
national enemies, and to behold his son capable 
of assuming the government. 

He was still accustomed, in pleasant weather, 
to leave his cottage, and, supported by two of 
his children, would walk to a tree at a little dis¬ 
tance, where, reclining on a couch of skins, he 
conversed with his friends and family. 

lie loved to repeat the traditions of his 
ancestors, and spoke with delight of meeting 
those brave men in the world of spirits. He 
also gave Oscar much counsel in respect to the 
regulation of the government, and exhorted 
him never to acknowledge the authority of the 
Romans, but to cherish the independence of his 
forefathers. These were the counsels which a 
heathen father would naturally give his son. 
When wearied with conversation, he would call a 
minstrel, who sang some of the national hymns, 
and their effect was soothing to the invalid, as was 
David’s psalmody to the troubled spirit of Saul. 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 83 

He soon became too weak to walk, and was 
obliged to be carried abroad. Perceiving him¬ 
self rapidly declining, he desired to see his 
brother, the priest, with whom he had held 
little intercourse during the civil commotions. 
The Druid had been prevented from visiting 
his kindred by the increase of care consequent 
upon his election as the chief of the priesthood. 
He was now the Archdruid, holding very much 
the same relation to the Britons as the High 
Priest at Jerusalem held to the Hebrews. A 
messenger was despatched to the island where 
he resided to request his immediate presence. 

Meanwhile, the chieftain was urged to sacri¬ 
fice, (according to the national custom,) a human 
victim, in order that his own life might be saved 
by the offering of another. But the invalid 
firmly refused to practise this cruelty, declaring 
that his disease was incurable, being the ap¬ 
pointment of an irresistible power. His in¬ 
tercourse with the Romans had shaken his con¬ 
fidence in the superstitions of his own people, 
while he clung most tenaciously to the doc¬ 
trines of his ancestry, which, although utterly 
defective and erroneous, were in many respects 
better than the Paganism of the Romans. 

The Archdruid, so soon as he received the 
news of his brother’s illness, hastened his de- 


84 THE DRUIDS; OR, PICTURES OF 

parture. Upon reaching the town, he proceeded 
alone to the dwelling of the chieftain, and, after 
a long interview, came out weeping, for his worst 
fears were confirmed by the appearance of 
the sick man. He expressed great surprise at 
the manly bearing of Oscar, whom he hardly 
recognized. He heard with unaffected pride 
the story of his nephew’s valour, which had al¬ 
ready been celebrated by the British minstrels, 
as the prowess of the Son of Jesse was extolled 
by the women who sang his welcome upon 
returning from the slaughter of Goliath. 

The chieftain revived in the presence of his 
brother, and was able to converse freely con¬ 
cerning public affairs, and to advise with the 
priest about those matters in which they w r ere 
equally interested. Oscar was usually present 
at these interviews, and derived much infor¬ 
mation in respect to the administration of the 
government, which he was shortly to assume. 
So the aged David instructed Solomon in respect 
to conducting the affairs of the Hebrew nation. 

After he had finished his public and domes¬ 
tic arrangements, the chieftain began to con¬ 
verse in respect to the future beyond the grave, 
and enquired of the priest as to his belief in 
the soul’s immortality. A vague and unsatis¬ 
factory reply was made, by reference to certain 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 85 


traditions, which had been handed down, and 
the religious teacher also intimated that an in¬ 
visible and eternal Being -was typified by the 
Sun and the Serpent whom they worshipped. 
He assured his brother, that valour and virtue 
would insure future happiness, while in the course 
of centuries the soul might hope to revisit the 
earth in a human body. These assertions did 
not satisfy the dying chief, for he felt that he 
could not claim any thing on account of his 
character, since he had often disobeyed the 
dictates of conscience and knew that he might 
have done better. The priest then bade him 
offer costly sacrifices as an atonement. 

“Alas,’ r said he, “you forget, my brother, 
that these can be of no use to the Powers 
above, and that there is no merit in my offer¬ 
ing what I can no longer enjoy. My only con¬ 
solation is found in the thought, that the might 
and knowledge which is shown in my own 
frame, and in the world around, is joined with 
love, and that I, a miserable sinner, should not 
have been spared so long, and surrounded with 
so many blessings, unless there were mercy 
provided for the penitent. Yet this is all sur¬ 
mise. Oh that one would come from the world 
of spirits to teach us our duty, and our destiny, 
and the way of obtaining pardon!” 


86 the druids; or, pictures of 

“ That is a boon,” responded the priest, 
“ too great for man to anticipate.” 

So these poor heathen wandered in their 
blindness, not knowing that God had so loved 
the world as to send his only begotten Son, 
that whosoever believed on Him, might not 
perish, but have everlasting life. 

When w T e think on the condition of these 
Pagans, and recall our knowledge of the Di¬ 
vine goodness, and the numbers who yet reject 
the proffered salvation, we must perceive the 
application to our age, of the Redeemer’s warn¬ 
ing to his own generation, “ If the mighty 
works, which have been done in thee, had been 
done in Sodom, it would have remained until 
this day. But I say unto you it shall be more 
tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of 
judgment, than for thee.” “ There shall be 
weeping and gnashing of teeth when ye shall 
see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the 
prophets in the kingdom of God, and you 
yourselves thrust out. And they shall come 
from the east and from the west, and from the 
north and from the south, and shall sit down 
in the kingdom of God, and behold there are 
last which shall be first, and there are first 
which shall be last.” 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 87 

‘ It was a beautiful afternoon in the autumn. 
The warm beams of the sun had dispelled the 
mist, and diffused a mild and genial tempera¬ 
ture. The chieftain desired to be carried 
abroad, and his couch was prepared in the open 
air ; where he reclined for several hours, while 
his wife and children were seated around. 
They proposed to bear him back again when 
the shadows lengthened, but he declined the 
offer, and seemed invigorated by the cool air. 
He raised himself on his elbow, and turned his 
face to the west. The chief men approached 
near the circle of the family, and the multi¬ 
tude gathered at a little distance to obtain a 
view of their Prince. 

The eye of the chief brightened with its 
wonted lustre, as he saluted his warriors, and 
then, calling the harper, he bade him sing the 
hymn with which they were accustomed to en¬ 
gage in battle, and which was last heard by 
him when the routed legions of the Roman 
army fled behind their ramparts. The minstrel 
obeyed with a voice stifled by feeling, but soon 
forgetting the listener in the theme, he sang 
triumphantly of the retreating enemy. A 
smile shone in the countenance of the invalid, 
and his grisled locks gleamed in the glowing 
beams of departing day, as he lifted his hand • 


88 THE DRUIDS ; OR, PICTURES OF 

on high and shouted the war-cry, which had 
often led his followers into the thickest of the 
battle, hut the effort was too great and he fell 
prostrate ! They hastened to raise him, but his 
work on earth was done, for his soul had fled 
in the shout, and, after a few pulsations, the 
heart ceased to beat. They laid him on the 
ground, as the sun-light faded, and, wrapping 
the mantle around the body, bore it to his 
dwelling. 

Loud and long was the wail which pierced 
the air, when the news was proclaimed that the 
chieftain was dead, and through the night the 
shrill lamentation of the women startled the 
beasts of the forest and spread the sad tidings. 
But the principal mourners uttered no clamour, 
as they mused together. 

The priest thought much on the past and 
the future, for he was brotherless, and his own 
soul refused the consolation which he endeav¬ 
oured to impart unto others. Oscar recalled 
his intercourse with his departed parent from 
the earliest childhood, and regretted most sharp¬ 
ly every neglect of filial duty, w T hile he strove 
to comfort his mother by his presence and at¬ 
tentions. She was the saddest of those sorrow¬ 
ing ones, for the companion of her life had 
• gone and left her home desolate. This bereaved 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 89 

company sat together, conversing upon the 
virtues of the deceased, and indulging their 
grief, until the eastern sky was tinged by the • 
rising of the sun. Oh, could we only return 
over the centuries, and enter that lonely 
cottage, and watch with that sorrowing band, 
we should better comprehend the value of those 
blessed truths which the gospel of Jesus has 
disclosed! 

Several days passed before the preparations 
for the funeral were completed, and messengers 
were sent to summon those whose attendance 
was demanded by their rank or kindred. 

On the appointed morning, the body was 
wrapped in the choicest robes and carried 
forth, preceded by the favourite horse and 
hound of the deceased, while behind was driven 
the war-chariot with the weapons of the chief¬ 
tain. A long procession of chariots, horse¬ 
men and footmen followed, while the wail of 
women accompanied the multitude in their 
journey. It resembled the host who attended 
upon the funeral of the patriarch Jacob.* 

After travelling many miles they reached 
the place of burial. It was not, like those of 
the Hebrews and Egyptians, a tomb hewn out • 


* Gen. 1, 7, 13. 





90 the druids; or, pictures of 

of the rock, but an open plain, covered with 
mounds like those which are now scattered over 
• some parts of our Western valleys. A large 
and deep grave had been excavated, and the 
bottom lined with clay, while sacred earth had 
been procured to form a mound over the re¬ 
mains. The services commenced with the sac¬ 
rifice of the horse and dog, when a eulogy was 
pronounced by an attending Druid. The corpse 
was then arrayed in armour and in the cost¬ 
liest ornaments, and laid in a bending posture 
upon the earth. They placed around it the 
sword, dagger, shield and other weapons of 
the chieftain, and, in addition, a drinking cup 
and a golden necklace which he had torn from 
a Roman officer. The bodies of the steed and 
hound were added, so that they should be ready 
for him in the spirit land; and the Archdruid 
advanced to sprinkle the earth over the remains 
of his brother. Oscar followed, and was suc¬ 
ceeded by the noblemen present, when a mul¬ 
titude, under the direction of a head-man, 
raised a mound, several feet in height, shaped 
in the form of an inverted bowl. The rites 
were concluded by a banquet, and the min¬ 
strels extolled the valour and virtues of the de¬ 
parted, as David did those of Saul and Jonathan, 
and as Jeremiah the prophet is said “to have 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 91 

lamented for Josiah; and all tlie singing men, 
and the singing women, spake of Josiah in their 
lamentations to this day.” 

Shortly after the funeral, Oscar was induct¬ 
ed into the office of his father, to which he 
was entitled by his exploits as well as by his 
birthright. His uncle tarried to assist in the 
ceremonies and to sustain the chieftain by his 
counsel. 

The priest was soon obliged to return, but 
he exacted a promise from his nephew, that he 
■would visit him at the festival in the ensuing 
spring, when the druidical year commenced,. 
Accordingly, when Oscar had arranged the 
affairs of his government so that it was pos¬ 
sible for him to be absent, he started, accom¬ 
panied by a number of followers, for the island 
of Mona, now called Anglesea, where his uncle 
resided. He found the people everywhere en¬ 
thusiastically devoted to the maintenance of 
civil freedom against foreign encroachments ; 
and he was universally greeted as a national 
deliverer. 

The party of Oscar, upon reaching the strait 

wdiich divided the island from the main land, 

were ferried over in boats, while their horses 

swam behind. They were welcomed upon 

landing by the Archdruid, who had approach- 

8 


92 THE DRUIDS ; OR, PICTURES OF 

ed the shore with his retinue. The island is 
about twenty-five miles long by seventeen 
broad, and was then, according to the existing 
.state of agriculture in Britain, well cultivated. 

The young chieftain was conducted to a 
dwelling at a short distance from the sacred 
grove, within whose precincts only the priests 
were permitted to lodge. The neighbourhood 
was crowded with strangers from Britain, Ire¬ 
land, and the continent of Europe, both noble¬ 
men and priests; for although this was the 
chief seat of the sacerdotal order, large num¬ 
bers of the priesthood were scattered abroad, 
since no religious rite, and scarcely any civil 
act, could be performed without their presence. 
While many were unmarried, a large propor¬ 
tion had wives and families, and there were 
female members of the order, or Druidesses. 
The priests were distinguished by their long 
robes and short hair, and the different classes 
were denoted by the number and colour of the 
stripes in their garments. 

Every Druid carried a wand or stall", and 
wore around the neck an amulet, which they 
declared to be a serpent’s egg, formed miracu¬ 
lously, and capable of imparting extraordinary 
powers to its possessor. Their chief objects 
of worship were fire and the serpent. The 







Arch Druid in hi? full Judicial Costume, and wearing the 
Breast-plate of Judgment, pronouncing sentence,—p. 93. 
















































































BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 95 

adoration of the serpent is among the most 
ancient and wide-spread forms of Paganism. 
It has existed for ages in China, as W’ell as 
among the Druids, and may have originated 
from a tradition of those events which are re¬ 
corded by the inspired writer in the first chap¬ 
ters of Genesis. Other gods were, however, ad¬ 
ded to these principal divinities, and distin¬ 
guished heroes or priests were deified by their 
posterity, while the mythology of neighbour¬ 
ing races furnished still larger additions to 
this rank. Yet the Druids, like the Egyptian 
priests and the Brahmins, are supposed to have 
retained some knowledge of the eternal Creator. 
They did not commit these doctrines to writing, 
but retained them in poems, which their pupils 
were obliged to commit to memory, and which 
occupied some twenty years in their acquisition. 

Four great religious festivals were celebra¬ 
ted. The first was at the new year, when the 
misletoe was gathered. The second was near 
the first of May, when the domestic fires were 
extinguished, and re-lighted from the altar. 
The third was on midsummer’s eve, when fire 
was carried through the fields to ensure a plen¬ 
teous harvest; and the fourth was early in 
October, when thanks were rendered for the 
fruits which had ripened. 


96 THE DRUIDS ; OR, PICTURES OF 

These festivals were celebrated on the sixth 
day of the moon, and required some acquaint¬ 
ance with astronomy for their regulation. 
Although the priesthood sanctioned many bar¬ 
barous customs, they evidently possessed con¬ 
siderable learning, which gave them their au¬ 
thority, so that they became the lawgivers and 
magistrates of the country, and the office of Arch¬ 
druid was the most important in Britain. The 
festival, which Oscar attended, was celebrated 
as near as possible to the tenth of March, and 
on the appointed morning the multitude col¬ 
lected with loud shouts to form the procession, 
which was to go forth and procure the misletoe. 
They had fortunately discovered the plant upon 
an oak, only a few miles distant, and were not 
therefore obliged, as in some instances, to 
cross over to the main land. 

The misletoe forms a bush from two to five 
feet in diameter, whose roots insinuate their 
fibres into the w T oody substance of the trees. 
It bears yellowish-green flowers, and is covered 
in winter with white berries. It grows upon 
other forest trees besides the oak, upon which 
it is rarely found, and, when discovered, was 
therefore probably so much esteemed by the 
Druids. 

The young chieftain arose early, and arming 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 97 

himself, as if for battle, went forth surrounded 
by his retinue to join the host which was very 
long in forming. Minstrels were stationed 
along the line, and the wild notes of the horn 
mingled with the sound of the harp and the 
voices of the Bards, as they wound over the hills 
and valleys. Several hours were consumed on 
the march, before they reached the spot where 
the plant had been discovered on the bare limbs 
of an ancient tree which spread over a streamlet 
that bathed its root. The shining berries on 
the leafless branch presented a strange appear¬ 
ance, and might readily be made, to a supersti¬ 
tious mind, a type of the mysterious doctrines 
which were held by the priesthood. 

When the company had assembled, an altar 
of stones was erected, and a rude ladder was 
placed against the branches. Two milk-white 
bulls were fastened to the trunk, and sacred 
fire was kindled upon the altar. Two Druids 
advanced, clothed in white robes, and one, hold¬ 
ing a golden knife, ascended the ladder, and in 
the presence of the multitude cut off the misletoe, 
which was caught in the lap of his companion. 
The bulls were then sacrificed, when the priests 
commenced a wild dance about the altar, in 
which the people joined, and which was follow¬ 
ed by feasting, and games polluted by much 

8 * 


98 the druids; or, pictures of 


brawling, and drunkenness, and by even grosser 
wickedness. 

The chief priests and nobles, however, re¬ 
turned early in their chariots, to deposit the 
sacred plant within the temple. This consisted 
of a grove, covering many acres, and sur¬ 
rounded by a wall of earth and a deep ditch. 
There was but a single entrance, and from it 
a serpentine road wound to near the centre of 
the enclosure, where a large space was encir¬ 
cled by a double wall of huge stones. A spring 
of water bubbled in the midst, and the crom¬ 
lech, or altar, made by placing a large flat 
stone upon two others, raised horizontally, was 
standing near, with the fire burning on its top, 
which was kept alive continually. The Druids 
and Druidesses dwelt with their scholars in this 
grove, and here was also the habitation of the 
High Priest. At sunset, another religious rite 
was performed, and again they engaged in the 
sacred dance. They stripped off their outer 
garments, and began to march around the al¬ 
tar, with a slow and measured tread, from east 
to west in the course of the sun, uttering va¬ 
rious incantations to appease the retiring Deity, 
and accompanied by music and singing, until 
they became excited and leaped and shouted 
like furies. 


. 






































/ 





























































































BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 101 

At the conclusion Oscar retired, as no one 
was allowed to sleep within the enclosure ex¬ 
cept those of the sacerdotal order. Upon his 
way, he passed another open space in the grove, 
furnished with rude seats, which was the acade¬ 
my, where students were instructed. 

Groves seem to have been the first temples 
where God was worshipped, as we find it re¬ 
corded, that “ Abraham planted a grove in 
Beersheba and called there upon the name of 
the Lord, the everlasting God.”* This de¬ 
scription of the druidical rites furnishes a 
reason why God forbade the Israelites to wor¬ 
ship in groves after the erection of the taber¬ 
nacle, and punished them so severely for dis¬ 
regarding his commands. 

He thus declared to the Hebrews,f “ Thou 
shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near 
unto the altar of the Lord thy God, which 
thou shalt make thee.” When the wife of Jero¬ 
boam came to inquire of the prophet Ahijah 
concerning the fate of her son, she received 
this warning, “ For the Lord shall smite Israel 
as a reed shaken in the water, and he shall 
root up Israel out of this good land, which he 
gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them 


* Gen. xxi. 33. 


f Deut. xvi. 21. 



102 THE druids; or, pictures of 

beyond the river, because they have made them 
groves, provoking the Lord to anger.”* 

We have also an account of the idolatry and 
sin of Israel, which would serve as a descrip¬ 
tion of many druidical customs. “ And they 
left all the commandments of the Lord their 
God, and made them molten images, even tw*o 
calves, and a grove, and worshipped all the 
host of heaven, and served Baal. And they 
caused their sons and their daughters to pass 
through the fire, and used divinations and en¬ 
chantments, and sold themselves to do evil in 
the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.”f 
On the next day the examination of candi¬ 
dates for admission to the priestly order took 
place, and as none but the Druids were ad¬ 
mitted, Oscar was entertained by the conversa¬ 
tion of the priests, and the exhibition of their 
professed power to work miracles. Their 
knowledge, of chemistry and their acquaintance 
with the art of ventriloquism, enabled them to 
perform many apparent wonders, which deceiv¬ 
ed the common people, and greatly increased 
their authority. The chieftain was amazed by 
the display, and his confidence in his national 
religion greatly strengthened. So, in more 


* 1 Kings, xiv. 15. f 2 Kings, xvii. 16, 17. 



BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 103 


ancient times, the magicians in Egypt and the 
Chaldeans at the court of Babylon, worked 
many apparent wonders, until compelled by 
the manifestation of the divine power to ac¬ 
knowledge their own impotence, and exclaim, 
“ This is the finger of God.” 

On the third day the great national tribunal 
was held, at which the appeals from the inferior 
courts were heard and decided. Thi^ was con¬ 
ducted in an amphitheatre, in the form of a 
horse shoe, open, towards the west, upon a 
plain. Seats arose, within, to the height of 
fifteen feet. The High Priest took his position 
in the middle, while around were arranged the 
chief priests and noblemen ; before them stood 
the party arraigned, and in the distance were 
collected the multitude. Their extravagant love 
of eloquence attracted great numbers to this 
scene. These trials lasted for several days, 
and the sentence of expatriation was pronounced 
upon any one who defied the tribunal. This sen¬ 
tence excluded the condemned from all inter¬ 
course with his countrymen. He could neither 
dwell, nor eat, nor converse with any member 
of the nation, but all avoided him as the Jews 
shunned the leper. This must have been a 
terrible infliction, when Britain was entirely 
under the power of the Druids. 


104 THE druids; or, pictures of 

Oscar had now spent all the time which was 
possible in absence from his people, and he 
therefore commenced his return, after a long 
interview with his uncle. He assumed the 
sceptre without any opposition, and ruled 
peacefully for several years, until the war -was 
again renewed by the Romans. 




BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 105 


CHAPTER Y. 

The inquiry would now be very naturally 
suggested—from what sources can we derive in¬ 
formation of the religious customs and cere¬ 
monies of a people, when we have only an im¬ 
aginary person, with whom to connect them ? 

First, the Roman historians mention Britain 
among their conquests, and describe the man¬ 
ners and condition of the inhabitants, both be¬ 
fore and after it became a province of that 
empire. Caesar wrote an account of his cam¬ 
paigns in this island, and Tacitus, the great 
Roman historian, also wrote the biography of 
his father-in-law Agricola, who was governor 
of Britain under Vespasian. The declarations 
of these authors must, however, be received 
with caution, as they refer to a distant and 
hostile nation, whose characteristics and whose 
religion would very naturally be misconceived 
by their enemies. 

The Gauls and Germans, with whom the Ro¬ 
mans were better acquainted, had the same 


106 THE DRUIDS; OR, PICTURES OP 

worship, and similar customs with the Britons, 
and their traits and habits, as described by 
their conquerors, aid us in judging concerning 
the Britons. Many hints are scattered through 
ancient authors, (as in the writings of Cicero,) 
and allusions to the chariots of the Britons, 
which give us glimpses of social life in this 
island, then beyond the outposts of the em¬ 
pire.* 

Yet no biography of any Briton has been 
preserved, and consequently there would be no 
more propriety in connecting this account with 
any one of the chieftains, whose names are 
mentioned, than in collecting from the old Tes¬ 
tament the manners of the Hebrews, and then 
weaving them into a pretended life of Joshua, 
the leader of the tribes upon their entrance 
into Canaan. 

A second source of information consists 
in the vestiges which still remain of this peo¬ 
ple. In England and Wales, coins and medals, 
ring-money and tools, have been discovered 
beneath the soil, which disclose the culture and 
habits of those by whom they were used, and 
enable the careful observer to infer much re¬ 
specting the character of the people. The 
ruins at Stonehenge and in the island of An- 

f 


* Note 8. 






II H 





































































BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 107 

glesea,* the rocking stones, and the upright 
pillars, to which allusion was made in the first 
chapter, assist the inquirer in his investigations. 
While the general condition of society is thus 
disclosed, the particular history of any single 
individual is not learned. 

A third source of knowledge in respect to 
ancient Britain exists in the graves which have, 
from time to time, been opened. The custom, 
already noticed, of interring with the body the 
choicest treasures of the deceased, has ren¬ 
dered their burial places valuable depositories, 
whence much could be ascertained concerning 
the life and habits of those whose remains were 
there buried. 

A correct idea of the nation and its degree 
of civilization, is gleaned from these various 
fields, and it has been the endeavour of the 
author to weave these materials into the pre¬ 
ceding story. 

The subsequent history of Britain may be 
briefly related. 

After several years of peace, Suetonius at¬ 
tacked the chief seat of the druidical power in 
the island of Anglesea, A. d. 61. He was op¬ 
posed by a great army of the Britons, who ter¬ 
rified their adversaries by their furious shouts, 


* Note 9. 

9 




108 THE druids; or, pictures of 

while women ran through the ranks exciting 
them to valour. But the Homans at length 
rallied, and, if we may trust their own histo¬ 
rian, conquered the island, and destroyed its 
groves and temples. 

They were, however, called away by the re¬ 
volt of Boadicea, and the Druids succeeded in 
regaining their ancient possessions, wdience 
they were not finally banished for nearly 
twenty years. 

Britain then became a Roman colony, with 
Roman architecture, Roman laws, Roman man¬ 
ners, and Roman literature. This continued 
for about four centuries, when the conquerors 
were compelled to depart by the dangers which 
threatened their own metropolis, and Britain 
was shortly after invaded by the Saxons. 

The Romans usually tolerated the religion 
of the countries which they subdued, but Dru- 
idism w r as so associated with the national go¬ 
vernment, that, until it was destroyed, there 
could not be any prospect of peaceably retain¬ 
ing the authority. For the same reasons, the 
temple at Jerusalem was overthrown in the 
century which witnessed the destruction of the 
druidical rites. Some of the druidical prac¬ 
tices were also exceedingly abhorrent to the 
more refined Italians. 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 109 

This destruction prepared the way for the 
extension of Christianity, as it overthrew the 
ancient superstition. 

The rapid spread, of the gospel in the first 
century was greatly aided by the Roman ad¬ 
ministration, which not only opened so many 
countries for the traveller, but transferred its 
soldiers so frequently from one position to 
another. Vespasian, who conducted the war 
with the Jews until he became emperor, had 
just left Britain, where he first gained renown 
by his prowess. 

The soldier who was to-day in Palestine or 
Africa might to-morrow be ordered to the ex¬ 
treme north of Europe. When any of these 
were converted, they were missionaries to all 
nations, and very early, numbers of the legion¬ 
aries were convinced of the truth of Christi¬ 
anity, and, as we learn from history, acknow¬ 
ledged its claims. Even the Roman nobles 
were not unmoved by the preaching of the 
gospel. Paul sends a salutation « to those of 
Caesar’s household,” and Tacitus mentions the 
wife of a nobleman, who had imbibed a new 
mperstition, as he calls it, which made her me¬ 
lancholy, although it did not affect her private 
character. This would be a very natural de¬ 
scription of Christianity by a heathen, since 


110 THE DRUIDS; OR, PICTURES 01 

even now the impenitent imagine that faith in 
Christ makes its possessor unhappy, because it 
makes him serious. It is noticeable, that the 
husband of this lady was appointed to be the 
governor of Britain. 

These facts show how Christianity might 
easily have found its way to that distant region, 
as it did undoubtedly very soon after its pro¬ 
mulgation, without rendering it necessary to 
Suppose (as some do) that Paul or any other of 
the apostles ever visited that country. He who 
is “head over all things unto the church” ar¬ 
ranged every event for the accomplishment of 
his own great purpose, to establish and extend 
his kingdom. 

It must not, however, be imagined that the 
Britons immediately*became Christians, or that, 
even after receiving the gospel, they manifested 
the highest attainments in virtue. “ First the 
blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in 
the ear,” is the order of progress in the divine 
plan. Our missionaries, who are preaching in 
foreign lands, unite in testifying that the out¬ 
ward deportment, the morality and the Chris¬ 
tian character of those who are converted di¬ 
rectly from heathenism, is never of so high an 
order as in a society which has long been un¬ 
der the influence of the gospel. Druidism 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. Ill 

long retained its hold upon the popular mind; 
and even now, after eighteen centuries, and 
such radical changes in language, civilization, 
government, and religion, the traditionary re¬ 
spect for the misletoe, the ceremonies at All- 
hallowmas, the bonfires of May-day, and mid¬ 
summer’s eve, show the power of this super¬ 
stition. 

Yet the wigwams of the North American 
Indians, and their condition when our fore¬ 
fathers landed from the Mayflower, would not 
contrast more strongly with the New England 
of to-day, than would the dwellings and habits 
of the ancient Britons. This story may have 
enabled the reader to draw the parallel. What 
has effected the alteration, and given us our 
blessings ? 

It has not been the result of conquest, for 
the Romans were themselves shortly overpow¬ 
ered, and their descendants are now deprived 
of those blessings of civil and religious liberty 
which are our inheritance. 

The frequent change of dynasties w T as but a 
transfer of masters, which did not in itself in¬ 
crease the national privileges. Even the ex¬ 
tension of civil freedom and the increase 
of wealth and of commercial enterprise have 

9 * 


112 THE druids; or, pictures of 

been the result rather than the cause of this 
mighty though gradual resolution. 

These have aided in producing the improve¬ 
ment, but the religion of Christ has been the 
grand renovating agency which has transformed 
the savage into an intelligent freeman, and the 
unhewn forest into a garden, and has built the 
princely monuments of art and science in com¬ 
mon with agriculture and manufactures ; and 
has even sent the swift engine on its iron track 
among the mountains of Wales, so that Britain 
has come to be regarded as the centre of modern 
'civilization, and, through its conquests and co¬ 
lonies, may become the instrument in God’s 
hand of spreading the gospel over the chief 
portion of the earth. 

Unless holy men had carried the gospel to 
those distant tribes, we might now be dwelling in 
wigwams; our women, slaves; our men, hunters; 
worshipping the sun and stars, and dying in 
gloomy uncertainty of the future ! 

Ought not we, the posterity of converted 
heathen, to manifest our gratitude by impro¬ 
ving those privileges wdiich have shown them¬ 
selves so effectual for good, and endeavour to 
impart unto others the inestimable blessings 
which we have so freely received ? 

The refusal to make this return will be a 


BRITAIN AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 113 

dreadful charge against a soul in the hour of 
final trial and award. 

No reader of this sketch can avoid the con¬ 
clusion that men who possessed the intelligence 
of the Druids were guilty before God for their 
idolatry. Man always and everywhere is able 
to perceive proofs of the Divine existence; and 
when he worships the creature instead of the 
Creator, he rebels against the teaching both of 
nature and of conscience, even though he may 
be without a special revelation. 





NOTES. 


Note 1. 

Our Ancestry. —P. 4. 

The facts in the case, so far as I have been able to 
ascertain them, in respect to our descent from the ancient 
Britons, are these:—The British were of the Gaelic or 
Celtic race, with the same manners, language and cus¬ 
toms with their neighbours upon the continent. This, the 
Roman historians, Caesar and Tacitus, attest. They were 
conquered but not exterminated by the Saxons, a German 
race; and the proof of this is not only found in the com¬ 
paratively small numbers of the conquerors, but also in 
the preservation of the ancient Druidical festivals of mid¬ 
summer’s eve, &c., even to the present day, and in the 
fact that the inhabitants of Wales have always been re¬ 
garded as the lineal descendants of the ancient Britons. 
The Saxons were overcome by the Normans, another 
family of the Germanic or Teutonic race, and from these 
three were the English derived. The Normans have, per¬ 
haps, their type among the nobles; the Saxons in the 
sturdy yeomen of Northumberland; and the British in 
the Welsh;—but the middling classes are composed of a 
mixture. The best authority which I have on hand, and 
which will, I suppose, be conclusive, is found in Macaulay’s 
late History of England, vol. i. chap. i. pp. 16,17, Har¬ 
per’s edition. 

“Early in the fourteenth century the amalgamation of 
the races was all but complete, and it was soon made 

115 



116 


NOTES. 


manifest, by signs not to be mistaken, that a people infe¬ 
rior to none existing in the world had been formed by 
the mixture of three branches of the great Teutonic family 
with each other, and with the aboriginal Britons.” 

Note 2. 

Chariots. —P. 14. 

Caesar speaks of the War Chariots. De Bell. Gal. b. 5, 
ci. 19, and b. 14, c. 33. 

Suetonius, who flourished in the first century of the 
Christian era, in describing the passage of the Emperor 
Caligula over the bridge which he had caused to be con¬ 
structed between Baiae and Puteoli, mentions that the em¬ 
peror was drawn in a chariot by two famous horses, and 
was followed by a party of his friends in British chariots. 

Note 3. 

Golden Chains. —P. IT. 

These golden ornaments are mentioned by Tacitus in 
his Annals, xii. 36, and several have been discovered in 
different parts of England and Wales. Two of these 
curious memorials of a distant age are preserved in the 
British Museum. 

• Note 4. 

Two white-washed Cottages. —P. 18. 

The Roman Senate, on the death of Antoninus Pius, a. d. 
161, who had carried on wars with the Gauls and Britons, 
caused a pillar to be erected in memory of his exploits, 
which is still standing, and is called the “Antonine co¬ 
lumn.” Representations of Gaulish huts, which coincide 
with the description of the text, are found upon this 
column, and Caesar mentions that the cottages of Britain 
were like those of Gaul. 


NOTES. 


117 


Note 5. 

A Boat of Osier. —P. 34. 

Caesar, in his account of the Civil War, mentions the em¬ 
ployment of boats made of wattles and covered with skins, 
in crossing the rivers of Spain, which he had learned from 
the Britons to construct. 

The remains of several canoes made from a single trunk 
have been found in different parts of England and Scot¬ 
land, and. in 1834 one was discovered in the bed of a 
creek in the village of North Stoke, which is now pre¬ 
served in the British Museum. 

Note 6. 

Tour across the Channel—Commerce with Gaul .— P. 33. 

During the century which elapsed between the invasion 
of Caesar and the subsequent inroads of the Romans, 
considerable commerce appears to have been carried on 
across the Straits of Dover, and the inhabitants on the 
southern coast greatly advanced in the arts of civilization. 

Note 7. 

In the opening of the rock—The rock with a cleft. 

Pp. 23, 69. 

Southey, in his Common Place Book, quotes the following 
from Lord Buchan, in reference to the manners and cus¬ 
toms of the ancient Britons : “ The stone of faith is an 
octagonal stone, perforated of a size fitted to the reception 
of the hands and cubits of those who were sworn at the 
altar, on covenants of all sorts, among the ancient Gauls 
and Scots—a custom coeval with the Druidical rites.” 

Note 8. 

Britain, according to the Roman historians, was the 
centre of the Druidical power, and this system of religion 


118 


NOTES. 


Affords many striking proofs of similarity with oriental 
philosophy. This is easily accounted for, when we remem¬ 
ber that the Phenicians, in the time of Solomon, were 
acquainted with Britain and derived metals from its mines. 
There are ruins of round towers in Ireland, which have 
their counterpart only in the East; and Southey, in his Com¬ 
mon Place Book, quotes from an “Inquiry into the Pa¬ 
triarchal and Druidical Religions, by William Cook, Rec¬ 
tor of Oldbury and Dedmartin,” (Mon. Rev. vol. xi. p. 86,) 
the following interesting fact: 

“ The. measures of our Druidical temples are observed 
to fall easily and naturally into the scale of the ancient 
Phenician or Hebrew cubit, but Ijhey do not admit of the 
standard measure of Greece or Rome, or of any other na¬ 
tion, without being divided and broken into infinite and 
trifling fractions.” 

Note 9. 

The Amphitheatre or Place of Trial in the Island of 

Anglesea. 

Rowland, in the Mona Antiqua, pp. 89, 90, states, “In 
the other end of this township, (of Trer Dryer,) wherein all 
these ruins already mentioned are, there first appears a 
large cirque or theatre raised up of earth and stones to a 
great height, resembling a horse-shoe, opening directly to 
the west, upon an even, fair spot of ground. This cirque, 
or theatre, is made of earth and stones carried and 
heaped there to fonn the bank. It is within the circum- 
vallation about twenty paces over, and the banks, where 
whole and unbroken, above five yards perpendicular 
height. It is called Bryn Gwyn, or Brein Gwyn, i. e. the 
supreme or royal tribunal.” 


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